Amherst, Eden to clash for Class B crown
Boys volleyball
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst Central's David Greetham fires a shot at East Aurora's CJ Coastsworth during the Tigers' five game Section VI Class B quarterfinal win last Thursday at Amherst. The Tigers went on to beat Cheektowaga in the semifinals on Saturday and will face Eden for the Class B title at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Orchard Park High School. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Amherst has a huge mountain to climb if they are going to win the Section VI Class B title.

The top-seeded Tigers (17-2) face Class B powerhouse Eden (19-8) for the title at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Orchard Park. Eden, seeded second, has won the last seven Class B section titles and is the three-time defending Class B state champion. Amherst appeared in the section finals in 2000 and 2004. They lost both times to Eden.

"They don't do anything wrong," said Amherst coach Jeremy Schwob. "They have a strong team, defensively and offensively. It's going to be a real challenge for us."

Amherst lost two games to Eden in pool play at the Clarence Invitational on Sept. 8, but Schwob feels his team is much different now.

"I like our chances," said Schwob. "I think we match up well with them. We're not a big team. They're not a big team. I think our guys are going to play inspired."

Schwob once played for Eden coach Robert Pierce's 18 and under national team through Eden Volleyball Club.

Amherst advanced to the Class B finals after coming back to beat a pesky East Aurora team in four games in the quarterfinals on Thursday at Amherst and dominating a good Cheektowaga squad in three games in the semifinals on Saturday at Eden.

The Tigers trailed the Blue Devils 2-1, but Amherst won the fourth game 25-16. Tied at 24-24 in the fifth game, Schwob said senior back row hitter and defender Adrian Bylewski dug two balls from impossible angles for senior Andrew Hays, who set it to another senior, outside hitter Charlie Gomez, for the last two points. Gomez finished with 32 kills. Hays had 90 assists.

Amherst won the first game 25-12; East Aurora won the second and third games 26-24 and 25-21, respectively.

"East Aurora played the game of their life," said Schwob. "They played better defense than what we've seen from them all year. We took it to them in the first game, but they came on the next two games and were on fire."

Schwob said his team had to play out of character against Cheektowaga.

"They're a bigger team than us," said Schwob. "I told them the better defensive team will win the match."

"Before the match, I thought it was the most focused we've looked all year," he continued. "We came ready to play and took it to them. It's a testament to how hard we've worked in every game."

Amherst won 25-20, 25-17, 25-10. Schwob said his team got better as the match progressed.

Senior right side hitter Zach Willett had 11 consecutive service points in the third game.

"He played out of his mind," said Schwob. "He had a big impact on the game with his blocking, serving and hitting."

Gomez had 17 kills.

"They couldn't stop him," said Schwob. "He was hitting the ball all over the field."

Junior middle blocker Dave Greetham had eight blocks versus a player from Cheektowaga who was seven inches taller than he is, Schwob said.

Hays had around 40 assists.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com