The Calvary Christian seventh- and eighth-grade boys volleyball team came from behind to win the Delphic League championship on May 12, defeating cross-town rival St. Matthew’s in three sets. The final marked a rubber match for the Palisades middle schools, as they split two regular season contests. In the championship, the Cougars got off to a slow start in the first set and the Falcons jumped out to an early 12-3 lead. Calvary couldn’t recover and St. Matthew’s won the set, 25-15. In the second, the Cougars turned the table and grabbed the initial lead, going up 9-3. The Falcons immediately fought back with a 9-3 run of their own to make it 12-12, forcing Calvary coach Brian Kelly to call timeout and settle his players. It worked. The Cougars took control after that point and evened the match by winning the set, 25-21. In the deciding third set, the Falcons took an early 3-1 lead, but Calvary rallied to gain an 8-6 edge. Two St. Matthew’s points tied the game 8-8, but the Cougars refused to be denied and eventually claimed a 15-11 victory and the championship. The closely contested match highlighted a great season for both teams, something St. Matthew’s athletic director Andy Bernstein conveyed at the game, saying the showdown was, ‘As it should be’between the two best teams in the league, and even better, two teams from the Palisades.’ Coach Kelly thanked St. Matthew’s for their sportsmanship and noted ‘the great rivalry we’ve had, which has gone both ways for many years.’ Kelly cited teamwork, personal sacrifice and ‘competitiveness that never backs down from a challenge,’ as the reason for his team’s success. This was the second year in a row and fourth time in six years that the Calvary boys won the Delphic League volleyball title. The Calvary roster included eighth graders Henry Ramsey, Ryder Scheifele, Andrew Tennant, Brendan Ward, Bradley McCallister, JD Stuart, Will Eichler and Sam Van Dalsem, and seventh graders Alexander Jacobs, Adam Lee, Charlie Moore, Vincent DeSantis, Bailey Bland and Hunter VanDuzer. The St. Matthew’s eighth-grade team was coached by Jason Ward and included Chase Aldridge, Matt Douglas, Matt Kaufman, Hudson Ling, James Mann, A.J. Peyrot, Henry Prentice, Hunter Price, Kia Torab and Marko Trapani.
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