UNIVERSITY PARK — Wedged into a room in the depths of Penn State University’s Rec Hall on Saturday, members of the Manheim Central boys volleyball team fielded questions and traded answers from various media outlets.
Players fist-bumped after providing statements. They shared similar testaments. The Barons stuck to descriptors like “together,” “redemption” and “revenge.”
It was fitting, a spitting image of the performance they put on the floor in the PIAA Class 2A championship match.
“There’s nothing these guys would rather do than spend time together,” Barons coach Craig Dietrich said. “Not every team is like that.”
Manheim Central blitzed District 10 champion Meadville 3-1 — by scores of 21-25, 25-23, 25-16 and 27-25 — to hoist its first PIAA title in program history. The District Three kings also avenged a 3-1 setback to the Bulldogs from the 2024 state final.
Meadville was seeking its fourth crown. The Barons (24-1), along with last spring’s loss, dropped the 2018 title tilt to Northeastern.
“The outcome today is something we’ve dreamed of,” Dietrich said. “These guys have kept it one match at a time all year long and have not jumped ahead. I’m so proud of these guys and the effort they’ve put in, and just being able to represent the town of Manheim is really special.”
The Barons had a feeling history could’ve been written even before they touched the floor. But when Saturday’s second set came into view, the winning picture became clear.
Meadville (19-1) raced to advantages of 6-1 and 8-4 and placed the acting visitors on their toes. Then Central’s fortune flipped, as the Barons attacked for a 5-0 spree and forged a 12-11 lead, its first edge since the first point.
Landon Mattiace began carving and cutting through the Bulldogs’ defense during the stretch. The senior pounded five of his 16 kills in Game Two and pocketed one of his three aces. Blake Neiles, Mattiace’s counterpart in the middle, thumped seven additional kills.
“It’s a pleasure setting them,” said setter Dylan Musser, who teed up 43 assists. “Any time I set them, they put the ball away. They’re always trustful. With Landon, you just throw the ball high, and you’re almost guaranteed a kill. Blake, he’s always gonna be there.”
The dynamic duo wasn’t contained to the offensive side of the net. Penn State recruit and Team USA product Luc Soerensen, standing a towering 6-foot-8, was Mattiace and Neiles’ defensive assignment.
Soerensen still bludgeoned the Barons for 16 kills. He was an equal sore on defense, swatting four blocks. But outside of the Bulldogs’ weapon, the defending champs scraped 12 kills from Parker Gosnell and 10 from Tymir Phillips, a supporting cast Central could handle.
“As the season wore on, when we got to leagues and districts,” Dietrich said, “it was the Neiles and Mattiace show at times. They really set the table for us. Blocking was really good throughout districts, throughout states, and it makes a big difference when you have two guys like that.”
The plus for Central and the downfall for Meadville: depth was at the ready. And once the accelerator was pressed, there was no letting off.
Reagan Miller had 13 kills, which included a behind-the-head prayer, to help drive the commanding Game Three victory. Weston Longenecker was the stabilizer of the bunch, producing six markers, with two drawing 10- and 20-all results in Game Four.
“I think we do a good job between all four of us, five of us, (six of us) seniors, getting messages around,” Miller said. “I think we’re all on the same page. We all kind of have the same messages. It’s just different people articulating it.
“So in that fourth set, the message was, ‘We’re not comfortable.’ ”
While not comfortable, Central was confident. Like how they were side by side, packed in tight in the post-match presser, the Barons wedged out of each sticky situation in Saturday’s proceedings.
Together. With redemption. With revenge.
“We’re going to enjoy this,” Miller said. “… It’s a special group of boys and wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else.”