Volleyball season is upon us, and one L-L League boys' team to keep an eye on in the coming weeks is Manheim Central.
Coach Craig Dietrich's Barons returned nine experienced seniors from last year's league semifinalist team, and they'll be the team to beat in Section 2, especially with punishing hitter Josiah Hershberger - a league, District 3 and All-State pick last spring - back inflicting damage at, and particularly above, the net.
Hershberger will be flanked by fellow hitters Luke Spang and Brayden Fahnestock, who were both league All-Star selections last spring, plus vet setter Robbie Lawyer, a league and District 3 All-Star pick a year ago.
Hershberger is heading to Liberty University, where he'll play club ball. And Lawyer is heading to Shippensburg University, where he'll also play club ball.
With that much firepower back in the saddle, Manheim Central is also making some waves state-wide.
When the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association released its pre-season state rankings, the Barons were at No. 5 on the Class AA list.
Those are certainly some lofty expecations.
So far so good for Manheim Central, which had a solid semifinal showing last weekend at the prestigious North Allegheny tournament, falling to the top-ranked hosts in the final four.
And on Tuesday night, the Barons blanked Conestoga Valley 3-0 - 25-15, 25-16, 25-16 - in the section opener.
Hershberger led the way; he was unstoppable at the net, piling up kill after kill in the victory over the Bucks.
Chatted with Dietrich, Lawyer and Hershberger after Manheim Central's victory over CV about the upcoming season and the Barons' big expectations - plus anything and everything L-L League volleyball.
First up, Barons' coach Craig Dietrich:
Second, Barons' setter Robbie Lawyer:
And Barons' hitter Josiah Hershberger: