Benscoter came up big for Pennridge boys volleyball
Senior was catalyst for Pennridge’s deep run
Ryan Benscoter’s evolution on the volleyball court had Pennridge going places.
“He’s a monster,” Rams coach Dave Childs said of the senior after a state playoff match. “He did it again. He was the one getting the kills for us and it’s been that way all season. That’s his job. Everyone has their job and his is to get the big kills and he’s really, really good at it.
“He has a swagger about him and he’s a very confident kid,” Childs said, “but he’s a great teammate. He’s a good leader. And that allows team success when you have a great player that also buys into the team concept.”
Selected Athlete of the Year for boys volleyball, Benscoter was a dynamic force for the Rams all season, as they captured the District 1-3A trophy and reached the state quarterfinals.
“It was a fantastic ride. The most fun I ever had was playing volleyball here,” Benscoter said of the season. “I really enjoyed this season and I really hope the younger guys come back next year.”
Benscoter was at his all-around best in the 3-0 district final win over Upper Dublin, when he racked up 25 kills and added two aces. The outside hitter had a .458 hitting percentage on the night.
“We kind of challenged him with being a little more efficient, and he certainly did that tonight,” Childs said afterwards. “He had one of his more efficient games, and he was really unstoppable, especially here at the end.”
Benscoter went on to rack up 16 kills and two blocks in a 3-0 win over Northeast in the state playoffs.
He was also key in a come-from-behind victory, 3-2 over Unionville in the district quarters.
Leading the way with 32 kills and seven aces, Benscoter’s big service run was key for the Rams in the fifth and deciding game.
Pennridge built an 11-3 lead before Unionville came back to make it tight. But the fourth-seeded Rams saw their way through, earning the program its 12th consecutive trip to the district’s final four.
The Rams had one of their finest regular-season performances in a victory over Central Bucks East, with Benscoter again serving as the backbone. He had 20 kills, four aces and eight digs in the clash with the rival Patriots.
“Everyone started playing their own game,” he said of the squad. “There was a lot of trust inside the team. Everyone just kind of came together and became one big, solid unit out there.
“I tried to have the best night I could. I think a lot of it was my teammates. When I hit the ball, everyone came up and either said ‘good job,’ or ‘go get the next one.’ I think that really helped me and it helped everyone around. I think the team environment really helped us all.”