On Monday, April 11th, Colonia High School’s boys varsity volleyball team fell to Pope John with a devastating score of 2-0. Pope John’s own star Junior player number 13, Andrew Ward, who broke out and shone throughout the game driving CHS home with an impressive turn of events. With a record of 1-3, Pope John thrived for a win especially after their devastating loss against Jefferson High School. With all their hard work and vigorously hope to win every game and play with their hearts Pope John’s boys volleyball team made their school proud. The Lions only senior, Sime Lisica, lead his pack out into the wild and made his presence felt knowing that he will be surely missed next year. Although the season just started Pope John’s current record have not yet defined them and they will surely be a team to look out for.
During the first set the Lions managed to come back defeating the Patriots 25-22. To what seemed like the Patriots had it all under control, the Patriots come back on the court with hopes of tying and going to a third game. Unfortunately with every spike of their own, the Lions would tie the 24-24, as the Patriots call a timeout out for desperate measures. Coming back and scoring another point it seemed it was all up to the Patriots to get a two-point lead to end this once and for all, but a mistake from Colonia cost them as Pope John came back to retaliate and finally beat the Patriots 28-25 with an aggregate score of 2-0 and uprising their record to 2-3, and worsening Colonia’s record to 2-5.
Andrew Ward and Tanner Depuyt were given much credit, together they combined 21 kills out of 30 with the help of their teammates as well. Ward’s significant height helped the Lions prevent the Patriots from spiking as he had conceived two blocks out of 5, Depuyt’s agility helped him conceive nearly 15 digs preventing the Patriots from receiving points from dangerous spiking. Even with the loss Colonia’s Kyle Kirejevas managed to obtain 20 digs and with the help of Matt Scala’s 15 assists, both Chris Sica and Matt Zwiebel each had 6 kills. Scala’s outstanding 10 point service was not enough to defeat the lions.
With this incredible win the Lions go on to face Dover High school, who have a record of 1-3. And as for the Colonia High School boys volleyball team, they go on to face none other than township rivals the Woodbridge Barrons, who have a record of 2-2.