Buoyed by great defense and taking advantage of their opponent’s mistakes, Churchville-Chili defeated visiting Spencerport in boys volleyball for the first time in at least five years 25-21, 19-25, 25-16, 25-23.
The Saints never trailed in the first game as senior John Munding had three kills while John Keele and Matteo Ventura each added two. Leading 21-16, Spencerport closed to within one point of the lead on two consecutive kills and two consecutive aces by senior co-captain Erick Jackson. But a Munding kill stemmed the rally.
The Rangers returned favor and never trailed in the second game as they built a six-point lead on a block by setter Colton VanBrederode, kills by Alex Caton and Kiernan Crowley along with one kill and one ace by Jackson.
Churchville-Chili rallied back in third game outscoring the Rangers 15-6 after the score was tied 10-10. Ventura, Joe Wolke and Truman Benz each had kills with Caleb Smith adding an ace to help build the lead with Griffin Stella finishing off the game with one kill and one block over the final four points.
The fourth and final game was intense as the Saints built and lost a four-point lead. With the score tied 16-16, Benz had a key kill to give the Saints the lead, but again the Rangers battled back to tie the contest 21-21.
Again a two-point Saints lead and again the Rangers tied it 23-23 on kills by Jackson. But a Stella kill ended any hopes for another comeback.
Churchville-Chili’s defense kept them in the match led by junior John Bagley’s 20 digs. Wolke had 24 assists with Stella and Keele each finishing with three kills, one block and one ace. Ventura had seven kills and Munding six for the 3-1 Saints.
Spencerport’s Jackson had 18 kills and seven aces with Crowley next with 11 kills and Sam Lane adding seven. VanBrederrode dished out 38 assists.
