Barons eliminate Mounts

In a League quarterfinal match, the host Barons overcame a first-game defeat and dispatched Ephrata 3-1.

Manheim Central rolled headfirst into Ephrata's best skill—that is, blocking. With David Witmer (6-foot-6), Jordan Shultz (6-4), Chris Prosser (6-2) and Matt Gass (6-1) at the net, the Barons had trouble finding a clear path to the floor.
 

Ephrata's Shultz found an open spot on Central's side of the floor and tipped the ball there to give the Mounts a 25-24 lead in the first game. On the next play Witmer put up a block to give Ephrata the first game, 26-24.

The Mounts, however, couldn't sustain that success. The Barons made adjustments and whipped through the next three games to take the match.

"Maybe our players thought it was going to be easy after we won the first game,'' said Ephrata coach Bob Witwer. "It's something you have to fight hard for. Nobody is going to give anything to you.''

Prosser finished with eight kills for Ephrata and Witmer (three blocks) was right behind with seven.

Joel Harnly and Josiah Hershberger led the way for the Barons, each picking up seven kills each. Hershberger had six blocks.

"We served a lot more aggressively after that first game,'' said Manheim Central coach Craig Dietrich. "We kind of upped our level of play and got into playoff mode. Our experience helped, too.''