McDowell loses volleyball heartbreaker; Meadville, Cochranton advance to 2A semifinals
BELLEFONTE — McDowell was one set win away from continuing its historic season, but Pennridge rallied to take the fourth and fifth sets in a PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball quarterfinal win Saturday at Bald Eagle High School.
Pennridge advanced to the PIAA semifinals on Tuesday against WPIAL powerhouse North Allegheny.
McDowell concluded the season with a 14-3 record.
After falling behind with a 25-16 loss in the first set, McDowell took a 2-1 lead by winning the second set 25-15 and the third set 25-20. The Trojans were one win from their second trip to the PIAA semifinals in program history, but Pennridge took the fourth set 25-15 and the fifth 15-12.
Andy Trost had 14 kills and 10 digs for McDowell, while Daniel Easly had 11 kills and 15 digs and RJ Nagg had 35 assists and 12 digs. Mark Sanford added seven kills, Nick Malina had 19 digs, Deke Patton had 11 digs and Aidan Probst added five kills and five blocks.
Crawford County sweep
Boys volleyball powers Meadville and Cochranton will meet one more time this season with a trip to Penn State on the line after both won their quarterfinal matches on Saturday.
Meadville (19-0) swept Our Lady of Sacred Heart 25-19, 25-14, 25-10, while Cochranton (14-5) beat powerhouse York Suburban 30-28, 25-22, 22-25, 25-19 to earn payback lost to them in the same round last year.
Meadville and Cochranton are set to play in the PIAA semifinals on Tuesday with the winner playing for a state title on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Penn State University. Meadville is looking for its third consecutive PIAA finals appearance. The Bulldogs won the state title in 2019 and finished as the runner-up in 2021. There was no tournament in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jackson Decker paced Meadville with 12 kills, while Julian Jones had 10 and Cameron Schleicher added seven kills and seven digs. Caden Mealy had 25 assists for the Bulldogs.
Greyson Jackson put together a big match for Cochranton with 45 assists and 11 digs. Andrew Custead had 15 digs and Jaiben Walker added nine. Landon Homa paced the attack with 16 kills and six digs followed by Chase Miller with 12 kills, Louden Gledhill with 11 kills and five blocks and Kyle Hoffman with nine kills and 11 digs.
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PIAA boys volleyball playoffs
Class 2A quarterfinals
MEADVILLE (19-0) def. OLSH 25-19, 25-14, 25-10
M: Jackson Decker 12 kills, Julian Jones 10 kills, Cameron Schleicher 7 kills, 7digs. Caden Mealy 25 assists.
COCHRANTON (14-5) def. YORK SUBURBAN 30-28, 25-22, 22-25, 25-19
C: Greyson Jackson 45 assists, 11 digs, Andrew Custead 15 digs, Jaiben Walker 9 digs, Landon Homa 16 kills, 6 digs, Chase Miller 12 kills, Louden Gledhill 11 kills, 5 blocks, Kyle Hoffman 9 kills, 11 digs.
Class 3A quarterfinals
PENNRIDGE def. McDOWELL (14-3) 25-16, 15-25, 20-25, 25-15, 15-12
M: Andy Trost 14 kills, 10 digs, Daniel Easly 11 kills, 15 digs, RJ Nagg 35 assists, 12 digs, Mark Sanford 7 kills, Nick Malina 19 digs, Deke Patton 11 digs, Aidan Probst 5 kills, 5 blocks.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: McDowell loses volleyball heartbreaker; Meadville, Cochranton advance
