Shaler boys volleyball sweeps Parkland to avenge loss, claim program’s 1st state title
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Saturday, June 15, 2024 | 5:23 PM
Shaler senior Zac Wurzer hoists the state championship trophy with teammates after defeating Parkland in the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball final Saturday at Penn State.
Shaler senior Zac Wurzer hoists the state championship trophy with teammates after defeating Parkland in the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball final Saturday at Penn State.
Shaler’s Zach Rosenwald hugs Logan Peterson after defeating Parkland in the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball championship game Saturday at Penn State.
Shaler’s Zach Rosenwald sets up a kill against Parkland during the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball state championship on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Penn State.
Shaler’s Zac Wurzer scores past Parkland’s Will Stiles during the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball state championship on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Penn State.
Shaler’s Peyton Planz scores against Parkland’s Alex Wilby during the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball state championship on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Penn State.
Shaler’s Peyton Planz (24) celebrates with Logan Schimmel and Zach Rosenwald after scoring against Parkland during the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball state championship on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Penn State.
Shaler’s Logan Schimmel scores past Parkland’s Brady Hayward during the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball championship game Saturday at Penn State.
Shaler’s Logan Peterson scores against Parkland defenders during the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball state championship on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Penn State.
Shaler’s Logan Peterson celebrates after scoring against Parkland during the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball state championship on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Penn State.
Shaler’s Dante Palombo scores against Parkland defenders during the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball state championship on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Penn State.
Shaler’s Dunnovan Ronel saves a ball out of bounds against Parkland during the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball state championship on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Penn State.
Shaler’s Dante Palombo battles Parkland’s Luke Smith and Josh Nation at the net during the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball state championship on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Penn State.
Shaler’s Carson Wolff, Dante Palombo and Zach Rosenwald celebrate with fans after defeating Parkland in the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball championship game Saturday at Penn State.
Shaler senior Zac Wurzer brings the state championship trophy to his teammates after defeating Parkland in the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball final on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Penn State.
STATE COLLEGE — Shaler dropped last year’s PIAA Class 3A championship to District 11 champion Parkland in three straight games and wanted revenge.
They got it with a complete team victory and a three-game sweep Saturday at Penn State’s Rec Hall. Game scores were 25-21, 25-15, and 25-20, giving the Titans their first state championship.
Leading 2-0 in games, Shaler handed away the first two points in Game 3 but righted the ship to grab a 9-6 lead behind the hitting of Dante Palombo. The senior-dominant team spread the ball around from setter Zach Rosenwald. The Trojans responded and kept the game close, prompting a Titans timeout with Shaler leading 19-18.
Shaler won six of the last eight points to close it out.
“This victory was set in place by the teams before us that set the culture, but these guys worked so hard in the offseason,” said Shaler coach Paul Stadelman. “These guys have been playing together since they were kids. They are great friends and will go to battle each day. Today, I thought we came out with confidence and didn’t allow anything to rattle us. We fell behind by five points in Game 1, but we battled back.”
Shaler (20-1) beat Carlisle, State College, and Warwick to get back to the championship game. Parkland (21-4) had a tougher time, edging Red Lion and Pennsbury in five-set matches before sweeping Central York to reach the finals.
Shaler jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, but also quickly fell behind 7-5 after several miscues. They trailed 12-9 in the largest deficit in Game 1. The game played out tied at every point from 14 onto 21. Sparked by a defensive effort led by libero Cam Miller, Shaler took control. The Titans tallied the final four points to take the first game 25-21.
The Titans spread the ball around but were able to take advantage of the middle with the quick set and hits by Logan Schmimmel and Palombo. Palombo finished with 20 kills, and the team was credited with 27 digs in the opening game.
“We had confidence all year in each other,” Palombo said. “We have faced adversity and we have been behind, but we just had to continue to play that one-point-at-a-time mentality. We are going to make mistakes, but we just had to make up for it. Someone on this team was always there to pick us up.”
The Titans ran out to a 5-0 lead in Game 2, prompting a Parkland timeout. Four Shaler players had hits and Miller recorded an ace during the run. The lead was extended to 9-1 and eventually 11-5 on a Palombo hit. The team effort resulted in a 25-15 win in Game 2, setting the stage for the sweep.
“I thought Shaler played a phenomenal game today, “said Parkland coach Scott Trumbauer. “Dante Palombo showed us a lot last year, but he took it to another level this year. They just never allowed us to get into any type of run. They served aggressively, they played aggressively, and we just didn’t match that intensity. Give them all the credit for this win. I don’t think we had a run of more than three points all game. We knew what to expect. They just played better than us.”
Tags: Shaler
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