The Pennridge Rams were so close to making the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball semifinals.
Pennridge and Warwick were tied two sets apiece and 13-13 in the fifth and final set, with the first team to reach 15 advancing.
As it turned out, it was Warwick that won the next two points to move on to the semifinals, eliminating the Rams.
“We competed well the whole time,” said Pennridge coach Dave Childs. “It was two good teams. They were back-and-forth games. I’m proud of how well we competed. We played hard.”
Warwick’s season ended in Tuesday’s semifinals with a 3-0 loss to Shaler.
For Pennridge, its loss was the end of another successful season for the perennial power. The Rams went undefeated to win the Suburban One League American Conference, then finished as the runners-up in District One.
In the first round of states, Pennridge topped La Salle, 3-1, avenging a loss from last year’s state opener.
“We got the job done,” said junior Bryce Ammon, who had 21 kills and four blocks.
Ammon, an outside hitter, was the setter a year ago against La Salle, as regular setter Evan Jalosinski was out with the flu.
Jalosinski was healthy this time against La Salle and did his usual great job, with 43 assists.
“It was really nice to get on the court,” he said.
Pennridge finished 18-3 with the loss to Warwick, but fought until the end. Down 13-10 in the fifth set, sophomore Logan Jalosinski (seven kills, 10 digs, four blocks, two aces) served three winning points in a row to tie the score before Warwick closed out the match.
It was the first time Pennridge went five sets all season.
“It’s hard,” said Ammon, who had 22 kills and 10 digs. “It was a super-fun game and an intense final. We played really, really good.”
“It was back and forth until the end,” Evan Jalosinski said. “We were upset, our team didn’t want it to end. We were all so close and friendly with each other. We wanted to see how far we could go. We gave it our best.”
Jalosinski was also hoping to get another crack at Shaler, a team the Rams played tough earlier in the season at the Central York Koller Classic. Senior Jude Rotondo (19 kills, four digs vs. Warwick) missed that match.
But Jalosinski did not get that chance, though he tried his best with 57 assists, 14 digs and three blocks vs. Warwick and was a consistent performer all season. He’s headed to Penn State and will major in information sciences and technology.
“Evan did so many things well for us,” Childs said.
Childs was proud that the team finished 15-1 in the regular season with Rotondo, who will play at Belmont Abbey (North Carolina), out most of the time with an ankle injury. Tyler Smith did a good job filling in.
In all, Pennridge will lose eight seniors, including Wilkes recruit Aaron Ladd (eight kills, three blocks, two aces vs. Warwick) and Chris Cullen (seven kills, six blocks against Warwick). The seniors were able to play good volleyball during a very busy time that included their prom on June 1 and graduation three days later.
“We had a really deep senior class. They’re all good players,” Childs said.
The top returnees will be Logan Jalosinski and Ammon, who served as captain along with Rotondo and Evan Jalosinski.
“They’re already two of the best players in the district,” Childs said of Ammon and Logan Jalosinski.
Junior Ethan Vo (eight digs against both La Salle and Warwick) will return, and Evan Jalosinski said the team will be in good hands with his replacement at setter, Owen Smith.
Ammon said he will miss the seniors, but expects the Rams to be ready to go next spring as long as they progress during the offseason.
“I think we’ll be good,” Ammon said.
Childs, too, believes that playing summer and fall volleyball will have the Rams in position for another good season.
“We have a good core coming back,” he said. “We have a lot of good players. We’ll figure out how they fit and try to go on another run.”
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