On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, Pennridge, Emmaus, and Pennsbury varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams had a tri-scrimmage at Pennridge High School for men’s volleyball. The first set of the scrimmage began with number 22 from Pennsbury scoring five points in a row with his commanding jump serve. The opposing team, Emmaus, attempted to return from the deficit using their outside hitter. He strategically placed hard cross-court hits that Pennsbury’s libero couldn’t receive. Overall, Pennsbury had impenetrable front-row blocks against the barrage of Emmaus’ attacks. The first set concluded with Pennsbury winning 25-22, while the second set victory went to Emmaus with a score of 25-17.
Next on the court came a fierce battle between Pennridge and Pennsbury. Pennridge started the set by scoring three quick points. Their offensive hitting worked Pennsbury’s defensive players hard. Although Pennridge missed most of their serves, they came out victorious in the first set, scoring 25-22. During the second match, Pennsbury adapted to Pennridge’s hard swings by playing smarter and tipping over and around Pennridges’ blockers. Pennsbury came out victorious in the second set, winning 25-19.
The final match consisted of a cutthroat battle between Pennridge and Emmaus. It started slow, with servers from both teams missing their serves. Emmaus put up an effective defensive block against Pennridges’ swings, which helped Emmaus gain momentum for the rest of the set. After two full rotations of players, Emmaus’s setter helped them extend a sizable lead against Pennridge by serving five points for Emmaus. Emmaus ended the set, beating Pennridge 25-19. To start the second set, Pennridge struggled with low morale, and Emmaus took full advantage of the situation. While Pennridge continued to battle offensively and defensively, Emmaus took the final set 25-14.
The state ranking of the Pennridge High School men’s volleyball team has been declining for the past few years. Pennridge men’s volleyball coach, Dave Childs, said it “Hasn’t really been lack of improvement.” Dave feels Pennridge’s volleyball team has “A lot of work to do, but we have a lot of talent, and we’re going to have a good season.” The team was unhappy with their performance against Emmaus, which ranked 6th in the state in 2023. Evan Jalosinski, Pennridge’s setter, stated, “I think it was a little bit scrappy on my own end.” He thinks the team “… played down a bit more than we should have,” and he hopes that “… next time when I do bring the energy, we can rise up and hopefully win that game”. Overall, Pennridge’s volleyball team has nine returning varsity players and five returning starters and hopes to improve on last year’s ninth-place finish in the state rankings. For all of Child’s players, old and new, he plans to challenge and prepare everyone for the season, commenting, “I think it’s all about communication and finding what motivates each player and trying to bring the best out of them.”
