Unforced errors end Amherst's Class B title hopes
Boys volleyball
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst Central's Charles Gomez spikes a ball over Eden's Adam Wightman during the Tigers' four game loss in last Wednesday's Section VI Class B final. Also pictured is Adrian Bylewski (11). Photo by John Normile Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Amherst dug itself a hole against Eden and it cost them the Section VI Class B boys volleyball title.

The Tigers fell behind 7-2 and 4-1 in the first and second games, respectively, to the Raiders and lost 23-25, 18-25. Amherst came roaring back in the third game, 25-17, but dropped the fourth game, 21-25.

The best-of-five match was held last Wednesday at Orchard Park High School.

"We had too many unforced errors early in the first two games," said Amherst coach Jeremy Schwob. "We missed serves and hit other serves into the net. Even with that, we only lost the first game, 25-23. I couldn't have been more proud of them."

The closest Amherst came to leading Eden in the first game was 24-23. The Tigers went up 8-7 in the second game before Eden middle hitter Ryan Meller (17 kills) jump-served five straight points to put the Raiders ahead for good.

After the second game, Schwob told his team, which has five seniors starting, to clean up the unforced errors, and they responded, jumping out to a 13-4 advantage. Junior outside hitter/ middle hitter Dan Lawrence closed out the third game with a kill on an assist from senior setter Andrew Hays.

"I told the seniors, 'this is your last chance (if you don't win the third game)'," said Schwob. "They didn't want to get swept in three games. They didn't play up to their potential. In the third game, they came out swinging."

The fourth game was even through the first six points, 3-3. Each team then rallied to take the lead. Eden led at one point, 10-5; Amherst came back and went ahead, 16-13.

Tied at 20-20, senior middle blocker Mark Gardner had a kill to put Eden ahead for the rest of the game. Gardner finished the match with nine kills and six blocks.

Amherst outside hitter Charles Gomez was outstanding, finishing with 17 kills and four aces, unofficially. The 6-foot-five senior had six kills, unofficially, in the fifth game.

"I can't be too mad," said Gomez, who is looking at George Mason University and University at New Paltz among possible college choices. "We played really well. I was happy we took a game off of them."

"In the first couple of games, I didn't think we were ready for them but we started to pick it up in the last couple of games," he added.

"I thought he was by far the best player on the court," said Schwob.

Eden senior Steve Klein, who was playing with an anterior cruciate ligament tear in one knee and a medial collateral ligament strain in the other knee, had 15 digs.

"We probably played our worst match in a month but sometimes, you win ugly," said Eden coach Robert Pierce.

It was Eden's eighth straight section title. They went on to win the Class B intersectional title on Saturday for the fourth straight year.

Amherst ends its season 17-3. They lose Gomez, Hays, as well as outside hitters Brent Doerflein, Adrian Bylewski and Alex Dusenberry; middle hitter Dave Greetham; and right side hitter Zach Willet.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com