Raiders complete 3-peat
Taveirne records 11 kills in victory
ESSEX 3 AMHERST 0
There was a time in Mitch Taveirne’s volleyball career when he would have simply tried to pound his way to a championship.
Now a savvy fifth-year leftside, Taveirne used a full array of hits and tips and even a wellplaced free ball to lead the Essex Red Raiders to a third straight WECSSAA AA senior boys title Friday with a three- set sweep of the visiting Amherst Generals, 25-17, 25-22, 25-17.
A deep Taveirne free ball pushed the Raiders to the edge of another title at 24-17 in the third set. A bad-pass kill by Kellan Pearson finished off the struggling Generals.
“More knowledge, more experience,” Taveirne said of his willingness to win a point on a tip, an off-speed shot or a ball down the line.
Taveirne led all hitters with 14 kills.
“Guys do not serve to 13,” implored Amherst power hitter Dylan Jaber said after a pivotal second-set loss, referring to Taveirne’s consistent first pass.
Any chance the Generals had of mounting a challenge dissolved like their late 21-18 lead in the second set. The Raiders pulled even at 21-21 on a Taveirne serve and pulled off an impressive 7-1 rally to win.
“We broke down,” Amherst setter Dean Meunier said. “Everything was off today. We played better games in the regular season. We were slow on the ball and we were nervous. We know tipping never works but everyone was too scared to hit it out.”
“WE’RE COMING TOGETHER AND PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME.”
MITCH TAVEIRNE
Despite not flooring a player taller than six- foot- two, the Red Raiders established an effective block around middle Jeremy Orton that limited the Generals ability to hit out of the middle spot.
Orton had five blocks on the night to go with 10 kills while fellow middle Pearson had six kills and a block.
“That’s something that’s been peaking lately, our block,” Taveirne said. “We’re coming together and peaking at the right time of the season.”
Joel Wilson had five kills and three blocks to lead Amherst. Jaber had a quiet night with just four kills.
The Red Raiders host a SWOSSAA final next Wednesday on their quest to get back to OFSAA where they won bronze in 2012.