Shawn Theodore, Ryan Horutz and Shane Brower teamed up for one last surge June 4, finishing off an Abington Heights home-court rally to the first state boys volleyball tournament win in school history.
Theodore finished one point at the net with Bethlehem Freedom serving for match point, then delivered his own serve that the Patriots could not return. That combination paved the way for one last perfectly placed Horutz set that Brower powerfully finished for the winning point that ended the lengthy five-set match.
The final Brower kill capped a comeback from being down two sets to one and from trailing by three points twice in the final set, which was supposed to be a race to 15.
Abington Heights won the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 3A tournament match with set scores of 25-19, 16-25, 20-25, 25-21, 23-21.
The last set kept going because rules require a team to win by two. The Comets and Patriots were not only tied at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12, but also at every point from 14 to 21, meaning the match kept going until that final Abington Heights streak of three decided a set that had been tied 16 times.
Theodore finished with 26 kills. Horutz had 49 assists and three blocks. Brower’s winning kill was his 16th of the match to go along with two blocks.
There were many other contributors to the win.
Dan Beck had nine kills and two blocks. Nolan Moore had eight kills and two aces. Chase Beerman had four aces. Chris Cummins had two aces. Ben Reese had two blocks.
The match featured several swings of momentum, including Abington Heights starting out with a 7-1 lead in the first set, then Freedom scoring the first nine points of the second.
Freedom led 9-6 and 10-7 in the deciding set and its chances to conclude the match include when it led 21-20.
Theodore won a battle at the net for the tying point, leading to the dramatic finish and ensuing celebration.
Cumberland Valley 3, Abington Heights 0
Undefeated District 3 champion Cumberland Valley brought an end to the deepest postseason run ever by the Abington Heights boys volleyball team when it swept the Comets June 7 in the state quarterfinals at Exeter Township High School in Reading.
Abington Heights became more competitive as the match with the eventual state champion progressed. Cumberland Valley won by set scores of 25-9, 25-14, 25-18.
Aidan Dunwoody had 12 kills for the winners while Avery Reynolds and Bryson Walsh added 10 each. Isaiah Sibbitt had 35 assists and Elijah Fox had five service aces.
The Comets got five kills each from Theodore and Brower. Theodore and Brower each had five kills. Theodore had two blocks and Brower had one.
Ryan Horutz had 18 assists and two aces while Chris Cummins had 13 digs.
Abington Heights finished 16-5.
