With its serving on target, the Joel Barlow High boys varsity volleyball team was a menace to Masuk on April 5.
The host Falcons racked up 11 aces alone. While they did fault a number of times, they remained on course in a 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-22 win).
“Something we’ve really been working on is being aggressive servers,” said Barlow head coach Kevin Marino. “With that will come some errors but we’re willing to go with that.”
Barlow put its serve to work early in the first set. After Alex Llach’s kill tied things at 2-2, he stepped up to the line and went on a 13-point service run, helped out by the strong net play of Dan Murcia, Mark Meschi and James Pereira. Masuk stopped the streak with Luke Dolio’s block but the Falcons led 15-3.
Several kills by Masuk’s Tyler Barringer helped his team cut the lead a bit (21-9) but the Falcons closed out the win in the set on the serve of Llach, Grayson Vanderburg and Meschi.
The Panthers put up more of a fight in the next set, trailing by only two points (11-9). Another kill by Llach won back the serve, and Cameron Lynn reeled off eight straight service points for a comfortable lead.
Barlow benefitted by Masuk scratching on its next two serves. The hosts then secured the win on Meschi’s ace deep in the left corner.
Down 2-0 in sets, Masuk’s best effort came in the third, which featured 10 ties and five lead changes. Barlow scratched on a number of serves but it remained a close match due in part to the net play of Erik Schmid, Meschi, Llach, Peirera and Dan Parkin.
“We’re blessed with size,” said Marino. “We’re trying to take advantage of it and run a system that works.”
The Falcons actually trailed 15-12, calling a timeout. When play resumed they appeared to have settled down and regained their focus.
“I just told them to pay attention to the game and stay locked in,” said Marino. It’s tough sometimes when you’re rolling, to keep the focus.”
After Masuk scratched on its serve, three straight service points by Meschi put the Falcons on top 16-15 but four more ties followed. Llach’s kill regained the lead for good at 21-20 and Schmid’s kill sealed the win.
Llach led Barlow at the net with 12 kills. Meschi had eight and Schmid had five. Peirera and Dan Parkin each had four.
Llach also served up 22 points with six aces. Lynn had 15 service points and Meschi finished with nine, as did Vanderburg.
Barlow remains undefeated with victories over Pomperaug, Newtown, Kolbe Cathedral and Amity, and hosts Xavier of Middletown on Thursday at 6 p.m.
