WILKES-BARRE — Mike Conlon has had an array of weapons to set over the years within the Holy Redeemer system.
That includes classmate Mike Gatusky, recently named co-MVP of the Wyoming Valley Conference. Sunday at the annual senior boys’ volleyball game, the Royals’ setter not only had Gatusky, he also had the services of two of the best hitters in the league.
Crestwood’s Chet Manship and Wyoming Valley West’s Jordan Ellsworth combined for 23 kills, and Gatusky had a game-high 14 spikes as the West squad held on for a 3-2 victory over the East at Holy Redeemer High School.
Set scores were 25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 22-25 and 15-10.
The West team, coached by Redeemer’s Jack Kablick, included players from the home Royals, Valley West, Crestwood and Lake-Lehman. The East, coached by GNA’s Debbie and Jim Gavin, were comprised of athletes from Nanticoke, Dallas, North Pocono, Delaware Valley and Hazleton Area.
“I knew they were two very good hitters,” Conlon said of Manship and Ellsworth. “I’m happy that I was able to set for them. That’s the cool part of a game like this. You play against them all year, and you get a chance to finish off the season with them as teammates. It’s great. They played really well today, and they’ve both had great seasons.”
No senior wants to end their scholastic career with a loss.
Manship and Ellsworth can kind of relate to each other in terms of postseason runs.
Manship’s Comets advanced to the opening round of the PIAA Class 2A state tournament, only to lose to Northeastern – which won its third straight title Saturday at Penn State.
Ellsworth’s road was just as difficult. WVW opened its playoffs against Parkland in the District 2-11 subregional. Parkland also won a state title over the weekend, defeating Fox Chapel in the 3A contest.
“That was such a tough start to the playoffs,” Ellsworth said. “It’s nice that you get one more chance to play. You hate to end it on a loss. Being on the same team with kids from Crestwood and Holy Redeemer, it’s amazing. I’ve had the chance to play with some of the Crestwood kids, and playing with them one more time, that’s great. And I’ve always looked up to the skill level and intensity of the Holy Redeemer kids.”
Both boys were going to make sure this game didn’t end in a loss.
The West won the first two sets, only to see the East responded in the third and fourth, knotting the match at 2-2.
In the race to 15, Conlon found his new teammates.
Manship and Ellsworth combined for five kills in the fifth set, and Gatusky added three of his own. The West jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the stanza – only to see Nanticoke’s Matt Winters and North Pocono’s Zack Gething rally their squad.
A Winters smash down the line, and West attack error cut the lead to 12-8, but Ellsworth and Gatusky each had cross-court spikes and Conlon sealed the match with his sixth ace.
“It’s fun to play one last time, and there’s no pressure,” Manship said. “A match like this is a great way to end the season. You have a chance to play with all-stars, and at the end of this match, you saw that we started to build some chemistry.”
It looked like it would be a West sweep at the start.
Gatusky and Manship each had three kills in the opener, and a 6-0 spurt on Kenny Rexer’s serve gave a West an early cushion it wouldn’t relinquish. The East got it to 22-18 on a kill and block from Dallas’ Brian Drouse, but a service error ended the set.
The second was similar as a 5-0 run on Alex Kotch’s serve and an 8-2 run to close put the West up 2-0.
The East fought back.
DelVal’s Andrew Sorton had six kills in the third set and a mammoth, 7-0 run on Tyler Pittsman’s serve in the fourth enable the East to capture both sets – squaring the match at 2-2.
Chet Manship had 13 kills, and Ellsworth finished with 10. Conlon had 40 assists, four kills and six aces.
Sorton had nine kills to pace the East. Winters and Drouse combined for 14 spikes, while Pocono’s Matt Morris added 18 assists.
West 3, East 2
EAST `21`19`25`25`10 – 2
WEST `25`25`23`22`15 – 3
West Leaders: Mike Conlon 40 assists, 6 aces, 4 kills; Mike Gatusky 14 kills; Chet Manship 13 kills, 1 ace; Jordan Ellsworth 10 kills.
East Leaders: Andrew Sorton 9 kills; Matt Winters 8 kills; Zach Gething 6 kills, 1 ace, 13 assists; Matt Morris 18 assists, 3 kills.
