Rangers take volleyball title

The Rangers overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat Hilton in five games to win the Division II boy's volleyball regular season championship.

After winning the first game 25-18, Spencerport was trounced in the second game 25-12 and also lost 25-19 in game three. Head Coach Michael Zeman then pulled his team in a far corner of the Hilton gym for a meeting and the Rangers regrouped.

Using a more focused defense and gaining several points off of blocks, the Rangers ran out to 7-2 and 13-6 leads before Hilton came back to tie game four at 20-20. Three Cadet hitting errors, a kill by Steve Wood and a net serve gave the Rangers a 25-21 victory to send the match to a fifth and deciding game.

Spencerport went on an 11-4 run to lead 16-8 and got consecutive kills from Kevin Mark, Wood and Matt Larson to lead 20-11. The Cadets rallied late, but Christian Woodard and Mark finished the match with kills for a 25-19 win to clinch the title.

Hilton, just 1-19 two seasons ago, had one of the best regular seasons in the team's history finishing 10-6 and in the top tier of the division. "We talked about putting a banner up here in the gym, but this team has nothing to hang their heads about," said Head Coach Rob Steinorth.
Cal Palumbo led the Cadets with 25 kills, Casey O'Connell had 50 assists and Mike Fowler 17 kills.

For the Rangers, the offense was spread between Wood with 16 kills, Mark with 11 kills and Michael Pavone with 11 kills. Woodard had 37 assists with seven kills and Pavone added eight blocks.

October 30, 2005