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Abington Height’s Shane Brower tips the ball over to Bethlehem Freedom’s side of the court during the first round of the PIAA boys volleyball tournament game at Abington Heights High School in Clarks Summit on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

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Abington Heights players had tears in their eyes as they hugged family, friends, and fans after earning a hard-fought win.

This was one of 16 this season for the Comets, but most likely the one they will never forget.

After falling behind, 2-1, against Bethlehem Freedom, a team that defeated them 3-0 to start the season, they rallied for a 3-2 win filled with high drama and tension. The victory sent Abington Heights to the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals for the first time and a date with the top-ranked team in the state, Cumberland Valley, the District 3 champion, on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Exeter Township High School in Reading.

The matchup is the second game of a doubleheader. Holy Redeemer, the District 2 Class 2A champion, faces York Suburban, the District 3 runner-up, in the quarterfinals of that tournament at 3 p.m.

“I never expected us to get past districts,” said sophomore Ryan Horutz of the Comets’ win that ended Delaware Valley’s two-year reign as district champions.

“To be playing again this weekend in the state playoffs, I just feel very blessed.”

Abington Heights will have to put the euphoria of Wednesday night’s thrilling comeback in the past as quickly as it can while also building off the momentum.

Cumberland Valley is a dominant team this season, having won all but one match by a 3-0 sweep. That includes an overpowering win over Unionville, the third-place team from District 1, 3-0 (25-7, 25-22, 25-16) in the first round of the state tournament.

Avery Reynolds had 10 kills, and Derek Paul had nine, with Isaiah Sibbitt running the attack with 24 assists. Bryson Walsh contributed 12 service points with three aces, and Elijah Fox had 11 service points. Hayden Ackley led the defensive effort with 15 digs, and Aidan Duwoody had 11.

Shawn Theodore and Shane Brower, best friends off the court who are having a successful senior season in all of their sports, will lead the Comets. The three-sport athletes have helped their teams win District 2 championships in football, basketball, and volleyball.

In the Class 2A game, Holy Redeemer will look for a measure of revenge against York Suburban.

The two teams met earlier this season in a tournament, and York Suburban beat the Royals, 30-26. Holy Redeemer’s Josh Rocha had 10 kills in the clash.

Rocha enters the game with 1,468 kills in his career and 927 in 88 sets played this season. That is an improvement of 570 kills from his junior season in two more sets played.

Jack Wasiakowski, the Holy Redeemer junior setter, has 2,360 assists in his career and 942 this season. He has 149 assists in the postseason this year.

“We have been looking forward to this for a long time,” Wasiakowski said. “We circled it. We played York Suburban earlier in the year, and we are ready to go. We are excited.”

PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals

2-1 Abington Heights (16-4) vs. 3-1 Cumberland Valley (19-0)

When: Saturday, 5 p.m.

Where: Exeter Township High School, Reading

Tickets: Must be purchased online at https://piaad2.org/ticketbooth/, then select sport and classification.

How they got here: Abington Heights, the District 2 champion, defeated Bethlehem Freedom, 25-19, 16-25, 20-25, 25-21, 23-21; Cumberland Valley, the District 3 champion, defeated Unionville, the third-place team from District 1, 25-7, 25-22, 25-16.

Up next: The winner plays again on June 10 in the semifinals against the winner of the 3-3 Governor Mifflin (18-1) vs. 3-4 Northeastern (14-5), quarterfinal match.

Abington Heights players to watch: Shawn Theodore (238 kills, 116 digs); Shane Brower (175 kills, 49 blocks); Nolan Moore (136 kills, 88 digs); Dan Beck (90 kills); Ryan Horutz (573 assists, 101 digs, 55 kills); Chris Cummins (201 digs, 38 assists).

Cumberland Valley player to watch: Bryson Walsh (203 kills, 24 blocks); Derek Paul (187 kills); Aidan Dunwoody (180 kills, 89 digs); Avery Reynolds (120 kills, 40 blocks); Hayden Ackley (376 digs); Isaiah Sibbitt (630 assists).

Noteworthy: Cumberland Valley is the top-ranked Class 3A team in the state by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association and has lost only one set in the season in a 3-1 win over Central York. … CV’s Avery Reynolds was an honorable mention PVCA Class 3A all-state selection last season. … Abington Heights won its first state playoff match in program history with its first-round win over Bethlehem Freedom.

PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal

2-1 Holy Redeemer (20-0) vs. 3-2 York Suburban (17-3)

When: Saturday, 3 p.m.

Where: Exeter Township High School, Reading

Tickets: Must be purchased online at https://www.piaa.org/sports/tickets.aspx, then select sport and classification.

How they got here: Holy Redeemer, the District 2 champion, swept Carver Engineering & Science, the third-place team from District 12, 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-19) in the PIAA first round. York Suburban defeated District 12 champion Lansdale Catholic, 3-1 (22-25, 25-11, 28-26, 25-16) in the PIAA first round.

Up next: The winner plays again on June 10 in the semifinals against the winner of the 1-1 Dock Mennonite (6-15) vs. 3-1 Manheim Central (20-0) quarterfinal match.

Holy Redeemer players to watch: Josh Rocha (927 kills, 123 digs); Max Mohutsky (120 digs); Jack Wasiakowski (913 assists, 92 kills); Korey Tang (80 kills); Hayden Fleegle (104 digs).

York Suburban players to watch: Trent Weinstein; Truett Miller; Billy Doyle; Robert Berry.

Noteworthy: York Suburban is the fourth-ranked Class 2A team in the state by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association and Holy Redeemer is ranked sixth. … York Suburban defeated Holy Redeemer in a tournament, 1-0, (30-26), in March. … Holy Redeemer won its first District 2 Class 2A championship since 2021. … Weinstein and Miller were named to the York-Adams League Coaches All-Star first team.

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