Playing a fifth set was a familiar experience for the Winchester High

boys volleyball team and that experienced helped the Red and Black live to play

another day.

Winchester prevailed, 3-2 (24-26, 25-23, 19-25, 25-19, 15-10)  against Methuen on

Friday in the round of 32 in the MIAA Division 1 state tournament at the McCall Middle

School.

“We’ve had maybe five five-set matches this season and that experience helped,” said

Winchester coach John Fleming. “We got out to an early lead (in the fifth set) and just

hung on for dear life.”

Winchester, seeded 15th, improved to 15-6 and will face the winner of Sunday’s match

between second-seeded Natick and 34th-seeded Andover. Methuen, seeded 18th,

finished its season at 15-6.

Trailing 2 sets to 1 going into the fourth set, the Red and Black climbed out to an early

4-1 lead and stayed in front throughout the set. Winchester led by as many as eight

points, 16-8, serving for four straight points. Haoran Jiang served for the final two points

of the set, sending it to the fifth set.

“When you’re down 21 it can easily go the other way,” Fleming said. “We really did well

in the fourth set and I’m proud of our guys.”

In the fifth set, the score was tied at 10 before the Red and Black forced a side-out and

stayed in the lead in the rest of the way. Arthur Sampaio made the kill for match point.

On the preceding play, Jiang made the kill.

Brian Jiang made two kills during the final set

”Everybody on the floor came through for us,” Fleming said.

In the first set, Winchester held a 24-21 lead but the Rangers scored five straight points

to win it, 26-21.

In the second set, Bryan Jiang’s kill tied the score at 23 and Haoran Jiang served for the

last two points, assuring at least a fourth set.

Methuen won the third set 25-19, 

“It was exactly what I thought it would be,” Fleming said. “It was a super-competitive,

tough match.”

Pallanuoto Siena closed the regular phase of the Uisp youth championships in the best possible way, qualifying for the regional finals with both the Under 16 and Under 14 teams. For the latter, the final act of the regular season took place in the I Tre Ragazzi pool in Porto Santo Stefano, against Torre Pontassieve Giallo. The first half was balanced, Siena took the lead and stood out for its defensive effectiveness. The second half was intense, with many chances on both sides, Siena finding the only goal of the partial. The third half, in which the teams faced each other openly, ended 4-2 for Siena. In the last quarter Pontassieve managed to overturn the result with a partial of 4-1 (6-5), but the black and whites, with determination, found the equalizer. The final moments of the match were frenetic, but the final whistle sealed the final 6-6 which, thanks to the favorable goal difference, gave the Bianconeri access to the regional final stages. Goals for Iannello’s boys included Sabaly (two goals), Vittori, Contigiani, Scarpelli, Damiani. Also at Argentario, the match between Valdarno and Siena U16 was played: already qualified, the two teams faced each other to improve their standings. Siena’s initial lead was met by Valdarno who responded with three goals in a few minutes. The second set was balanced (2-2); in the third Siena picked up the pace and took the lead 7-6. In the last set Siena closed the gap to 10-9, but in the final Valdarno scored the 11-9 goal. The Under 16s therefore finished in fourth place: in the play-offs they will face the league leaders Lucca. In goals, for Burroni’s team, Bossini 4, Grazzini 3, Calvellini 1, Giudilli 1. The qualification of both teams for the regional play-offs, scheduled for June 15 in Livorno, represents an important confirmation of the growth of the Juventus youth team. Until the end of June, free trials for children born in 2014, 2015 and 2016 continue every Tuesday afternoon. Registration is required at https://forms.gle/G7hQuvcd6cMSVCSKA.

For those in attendance at Schaumburg’s boys volleyball sectional semifinals Saturday, they were treated to an action-packed doubleheader that at the conclusion saw both Hersey and Lake Park earn three-set victories to procure a return to the Saxons’ home floor in Tuesday evening’s sectional final.

Hersey d. Maine South, 20-25, 25-12, 25-23:

After dropping game one, ninth-seeded Hersey used a strong bounce-back effort in the second set to get themselves to a game three.

That’s when a feed from senior setter Ryan Cramer found his fellow recent Hersey grad Jack Stolzer to give the Huskies (23-16) a 16-15 lead from which it never looked back. Cramer added two more of his game-high 7 assists and Stolzer (block, dig) finished the decisive stretch with his game-high ninth kill that gave Hersey its first appearance in the round of 16 since 2017.

In addition it avenged a home loss to the Hawks just four weeks ago in the final of the Huskies’ own invite.

“I’m super proud of the boys, they did everything we asked them to do,” Hersey coach Laura Gerber said. “We had such a great second set and then it was so tight, back and forth, in the third set and our guys held it together. We had some amazing shots (and) played some great defense. So excited to be in the Sweet 16. It’s been a long time. These guys deserve it. They’ve been working hard and we’re thrilled to have the chance.“

Northern Kentucky recruit Leo Trespeces-Winck led the way for the No. 5 Hawks (27-12) sharing game-high kill honors with 9 in addition to a block and a dig in his final game.

Stolzer, a Milwaukee School of Engineering signee, gave plaudits to his team’s focus.

“The urgency has been there,“ Stolzer said. ”One point at a time. It doesn’t matter the score. We stay disciplined, we stay ready. Our energy is high-no matter what. I love this group so much. I’m loving every second of it and I just want to keep going.”

Lake Park d. Conant, 26-24, 19-25, 25-14: After sixth-seeded Conant battled back to even the second semifinal bout with Lake Park, the No. 2 Lancers (27-11) used a 10-3 tear in the third game to open up a 17-8 advantage.

That allowed to them to wear down the Cougars as their front court of seniors Carter Gibbons, Michael Ogorzalek, and Dylan Roszak combined for 8 kills in putting both the game and the match on ice for their first sectional final berth since 2021.

They also avenged a loss at Conant three weeks ago. Lake Park had beaten Conant last month in pool play at the Glenbard East tournament.

“A few weeks ago it was (making) too many errors on common things where we look back at film and almost laugh at,” Lake Park coach Brian Fischer said.

“It was just things we took away from it. Making sure we take care of business when we’re supposed to when we get out in those situations. We’re very grateful to be able to come back Tuesday and play. Hersey is a very good team.”

Conant (24-10) was led by a pair of outside hitters in senior Bryce Grogan and freshman Kaloyan Kotev with 8 kills apiece.

Gibbons, a Carthage recruit, paced the Lancers with a game-high 14 kills, 3 aces, 2 assists, and a block followed by Ogorzalek with 8 kills and 2 digs.

“Everything becomes complete once we put together all those pieces and that’s why we have a whole team of hitters around me,” Gibbons said. “It’s definitely a great feeling.”

COLLEGE STATION- ACU T&F completes the season represented by 2 stellar seniors who competed at the NCAA West First Round meet held at E.B. Cushing on the campus of Texas A&M University. There are 2 first round meets in NCAA Division 1 – the East First Round, held at the University of North Florida, and the West First Round meet. The top 48 athletes in each region in each event come to the First Round meet and the top 12 in each event move on to the NCAA Division 1 National Meet in Eugene, OR.

Ja’Dasia Sims finished her outstanding career at ACU by placing 36 th in the high jump, topping out at 5-7.25/1.71m. Earlier in the season, Ja’Dasia finished 2nd in WAC Outdoor Championship HJ, after winning the WAC Indoor Championship HJ title – her first WAC title in her career. Luize Velmere finished her strong senior season, finishing in 41st place with a jump of 40-8.25/12.40m. At the WAC Outdoor Championship Luize finished

2nd in the TJ and 3rd at the WAC Indoor Championship.

For the ACU T&F coaching staff the next step is to complete a recruiting class that already shows great promise and then to the beginning of the Cross Country season at the end of August.

Cumberland Valley wins District III 3A Boys Volleyball Championship

It’s the Eagles’ second district title in the last three years and third in program history

Updated: 8:46 PM EDT May 31, 2025

GAL News Sports powered by Xfinity. The District 33A boys volleyball tournament came to an end this afternoon with the championship game in Mechanicsburg between Central York and Cumberland Valley. These two teams have *** combined one loss on the season. Central York is the defending district champion, while Cumberland Valley won the district title back in 2023. Central York took the opening set, but Cumberland Valley would have *** response in the second set match point for the Eagles. Isaiah Sibbett sets up 8 and Dunwoody for the kill CV, wins that set 25 to 18. These two teams would then trade points in *** back and forth 3rd set. Central New York’s Ethan Korti comes up with *** big block. that gives the Panthers *** three point lead, but Cumberland Valley would come back and win the set 25-22. The Eagles would then close it out in the fourth set, winning 25-16. Cumberland Valley battles back after losing their first set of the season to win the District Three championship 3 sets to 1. I was worried at first because we haven’t lost *** set all year, so I was worried how the team would react, but I mean we just tried to keep telling each other positive to each other, talking and won the next afterwards. They weren’t used to it, but I didn’t even bring it up. I just said, move on. This group is special. They put in *** lot of hard work during the offseason over the last couple of years to get where they’re at, and they’re just showing all that’s coming to fruition now, so you know they deserve it.

Cumberland Valley wins District III 3A Boys Volleyball Championship

It’s the Eagles’ second district title in the last three years and third in program history

Updated: 8:46 PM EDT May 31, 2025

The PIAA District III 3A Boys Volleyball tournament came to an end on Saturday afternoon with the Championship game in Mechanicsburg between Central York and Cumberland Valley.Entering the game, the two teams had 1 combined loss on the season.Defending champion Central York took the first set before Cumberland Valley won the next three to clinch the district championship.It’s the second district championship in three years for Cumberland Valley and the third in program history.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. —

The PIAA District III 3A Boys Volleyball tournament came to an end on Saturday afternoon with the Championship game in Mechanicsburg between Central York and Cumberland Valley.

Entering the game, the two teams had 1 combined loss on the season.

Defending champion Central York took the first set before Cumberland Valley won the next three to clinch the district championship.

It’s the second district championship in three years for Cumberland Valley and the third in program history.