Sports
Calvary Christian Spikers Win Delphic League Title
The Cougars beat neighborhood rival St. Matthew's for second straight middle school crown.
In a showdown between local programs, Calvary Christian School's seventh- and eighth-grade boys volleyball team came from behind to defeat St. Matthew's Parish School and capture the Delphic League championship last Thursday.
The Cougars prevailed, 15-25, 25-21, 15-11, and won the league title for the second straight year and the fourth time in six years.
The top-seeded Cougars got off to a slow start in the first set as second-seeded St. Matthews jumping ahead 12-3. Calvary Christian never recovered and lost by 10 points.
In the second set, it was Calvary Christian’s turn to grab the early lead, 9-3, but the Cougars were unable to hold it. The Falcons fought back to tie it 12-12, and Calvary Christian Coach Brian Kelly called timeout to settle his players down.
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In the third and deciding set, St. Matthews took an early 3-1 lead but Calvary Christian answered with a 7-3 run to take an 8-6 lead. The Falcons tied it at 8-8, but the Cougars took command from there, pulling away for the victory. At 14-11, left side hitter Adam Lee's hit resulted in the clinching point.
Calvary Christian's championship squad consisted of setter Ryder Scheifele, middle blockers J.D. Stuart, Will Eichler, Brenden Ward and Alex Jacobs; left side hitters Lee, Sam Van Dalsem, Henry Ramsey, Bradley McCallister and Hunter Van Duzer and right side hitters Charlie Moore, Andrew Tennant, Vince DeSantis and Bailey Bland.
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Setter and right side hitter Matt Douglas and left side hitter Hudson Ling led the way for the Falcons, who had beaten Calvary Christian in a practice match early in the season but lost in three sets during league play.
The championship match was played in Calvary Christian's gym, packed with enthusiastic fans from both schools.
Both teams had outstanding years. During the awards ceremony St. Matthew’s athletic director Andy Bernstein said the championship match was, “as it should be—between the two best teams in the league, and even better, two teams from the Palisades.”
Kelly thanked St. Matthew’s players for their sportsmanship and “the great rivalry we’ve had, which has gone both ways for lots of years.” He pointed to "teamwork, personal sacrifice, and competitiveness that never backs down from a challenge” as the reason for his team’s success.
Earlier in the week, Calvary Christian had swept Harvard Westlake in the semifinals.
