Meadville boys volleyball team halfway to defending as PIAA 2A champs

NEW CASTLE — Meadville boys volleyball star Luc Soerensen admitted to some semblance of jet lag before and during the team’s PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal vs. Ambridge.

Soerensen, a junior outside hitter for the Bulldogs, missed their previous state match because of an invitation to a week-long tryout camp for USA Volleyball’s under-19 boys national team.

The camp, held in Anaheim, California, concluded late June 6. That meant the the Penn State University recruit required a red-eye flight to Cleveland if he wanted to return home in time for Meadville’s latest playoff match.

By its end, though, it was the Bridgers who were wearied by Soerensen and his teammates.

Meadville maintained its bid to repeat as the state’s best 2A program with a 25-23, 25-15, 25-21 victory at Laurel High School’s gymnasium. The District 10 champion will carry a 17-0 dual record into its June 10 semifinal against Shaler or Brandywine Heights.

Ambridge’s season ended at 16-3. The Bridgers, the PIAA’s small-school titlists for its 2009 season, sought to reach a state final for the first time since 2016.

This is an ongoing story that the Erie Times-News will continue to follow.

More: Meadville begins defense of its PIAA Class 2A boys volleyball title with home win

Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.