Volleyball: Strath Haven tries Central title on for size

LOWER MERION >> Anyone who thought Strath Haven was going to cruise to its fourth Central League volleyball title in the last six years after the Panthers took the opening game of the league final against Ridley Wednesday night obviously failed to remember what happened when the teams met five weeks ago in the regular season.
Strath Haven had to win the last three games to pull out a five-set victory over the Green Raiders so the Panthers knew this was going to be just as tough, and it was.
Strath Haven used its size advantage to get past the gritty Green Raiders, 3-1, in front of a spirited crowd at Harriton High School.
“We know how scrappy Ridley always is and this team is no exception,” Strath Haven coach Kevin Haney said. “They’re well-coached and they’re as tough as any team we’ve seen all season. We were lucky to barely get by them earlier in the season. They’re just a really bad matchup for us. They do things that make us uncomfortable. They serve aggressively and they’re able hit through the gaps in our blocks. Kristen (Schaffer, the Ridley coach) did a great job of game-planning for us tonight.”
For Haney, Strath Haven’s 25-17, 20-25, 25-20, 25-19 victory could be a going-away present. He said he was all but certain that this will be his last season as the Panthers’ head coach after 14 years at the helm.

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