Tigers lead Class B heading into postseason
Boys volleyball
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst Central heads into the Section VI Class B volleyball tournament as the hunter.

The Tigers, ranked 10th in Western New York, is the top Class B school in the tournament, which begins this week.

Amherst finished the regular season 15-2 overall, 10-2 in ECIC Division II. Both losses came to first-place Hamburg, a Class A school for sectionals. Tigers' coach Jeremy Schwob said his team was ahead in both games of the teams' second meeting but fell 24-26, 26-28.

"Before the season, (former coach) Michael Belle-Isle said he expected us to be the class of Class B and so far, it looks like we have been," said Schwob.

"We've been consistent and getting better in every match," he continued.

Schwob knows the road to the section final won't be easy. Amherst could potentially face second-seed Eden or third-seed Maryvale in the finals. Eden is ranked second in WNY; Maryvale is third.

Many players have contributed towards the Tigers' success, including seniors Andrew Hays (setter, team leader in assists), Brent Doerflein (outside hitter, team leader in digs), Adrian Bylewski (back row hitter and defender), Alex Dusenberry (defensive specialist) and junior middle hitters Dan Lawrence and Dave Greetham. But one player stands above the rest, senior outside hitter Charlie Gomez.

Gomez leads the team in kills, serving aces and blocks.

"We definitely wouldn't be in the position that we are right now if it wasn't for him," said Schwob. "Teams have tried to stop him and they can't."

Amherst hosts the winner of the East Aurora-Williamsville South match on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday in a quarterfinal match.

"Both of those teams are scrappy; they'll throw a lot at you," said Schwob. "We're going to need our defense to get the balls into our setters' hands so we can get it to one of our big guns."

The semifinals are Saturday at East Aurora; the finals are next Wednesday at Orchard Park.

Williamsville South

The Billies, last year's Class B runner-up, heads into this year's postseason with not as much momentum but are playing better as a team.

South closed out nonleague play with a 25-19, 21-25, 23-25, 22-25 defeat to Clarence. They lost to the Red Devils, 16-25, 15-25, 17-25, in their second match of the season.

"We played better against them, so hopefully we can keep it going," said South coach Thom Knab.

The Billies closed out the regular season, going 2-4 in pool play at the Grand Island Tournament. South finished third in its pool, beating St. Mary's of Lancaster twice and losing to Kenmore West and North Tonawanda twice.

Knab lauded the play during the regular season of seniors Joe Paul (outside hitter), Nate Lennert (right side hitter) and sophomores Pat Drexinger (setter) and Nick Schuh (outside hitter). Paul and Schuh led the team in kills.

South finished 3-9 in ECIC Division II, 5-13 overall.

South, seeded eighth in the Class B tournament, hosted ninth-seed East Aurora on Tuesday. The winner plays at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday at Amherst.

Williamsville North

The Spartans have been practicing well and winning nonleague games as of late (beat Williamsville East and Williamsville South).

North coach Paul O'Connor hopes it can transcend into a win at Frontier in the Section VI Class AA prequarterfinals. The game was held Tuesday and results were unavailable before The Bee went to press.

The winner plays either West Seneca West or North Tonawanda on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

"We are going to have our serving, blocking and defense playing well at the same time to win," said O'Connor.

Seniors Drew Moscato (setter) and Matt Antalik (outside hitter) have been leading the team in kills; Moscato has also blocked well.

North finished 5-7 in ECIC Division I; good enough for fourth place in ECIC Division I. The Spartans are 10-9 overall.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com