The Northampton boys volleyball team scored the first EPC tournament win in school history when they swept Easton in the quarterfinals last Thursday by the scores of 25-15, 25-23, 25-21.

Head coach Sue Arndt described the team’s preparation, “We worked really hard on serves and blocks. The blocks are finally starting to pay off and the serving is improving.”

An 8-2 run in the middle of the first set provided the separation the K-Kids needed to go up 1-0 in the match. The serves of Alex Schoenen and Duane Milnes were the keys to the Kids’ advantage.

While in the first set it looked like the Rovers were over matched, they outplayed Northampton in the middle of the second set and led 18-16. A timeout got the Kids back on track and they finally put the set away on a kill from the back row by Jackson Fehnel.

The K-Kids led throughout the third set but could not stretch the advantage to a comfortable amount. Easton called a timeout down 20-19, but it was Northampton that responded as they closed out the match with Milnes getting the punctuating kill.

Fehnel had 19 kills and 14 digs. Keller Repasch had 36 assists. Schoenen contributed 8 kills, 16 digs, and 4 blocks. Milnes added 8 kills and 15 digs. Kody Whiteman led the team with 17 digs. Johnny Martinez had 7 kills.

The semifinal round against top-seeded Parkland did not go as well. The Trojans won in straight sets 25-14, 25-16, 25-19.

Northampton struggled to get passes Repasch to set up the K-Kids’ hitters and often overpassed, setting up the Parkland front row with easy kills.

“We were passing very tight,” Arndt said. “We never pass tight. To me, that’s nerves. It wasn’t giving our setter any room to work. The takeaway is that it’s EPCs. It’s not districts. We’ve got next week. Back to the drawing board.”

The Kids led 10-9 in the first set before things went sideways. They did not win another service point in the set. Parkland finished on a 6-point run.

Northampton was never really in the second set. They got down 7-2 early and were trailing 18-8 before treading water the rest of the set.

After falling behind 13-6 in the third set, the K-Kids battled back to get as close as 19-17, but the Trojans called timeout and then ran off the next four points to put the set out of reach.

Fehnel led the team in both kills and digs with 12 and 15 respectively. Repasch had 21 assists. Whiteman had 11 digs. Schoenen and Martinez both had 5 kills.

The team continues its postseason journey tonight at 5 p.m. when they take on Easton in the District XI 3A quarterfinals in Pete Schneider Gymnasium. If they advance, they will take on the number one seed and EPC champion, Emmaus, on Tuesday at a site that has not yet been announced.

The Kids were able to win a set against the Hornets during their regular season meeting on April 23. The district finals are set for next Thursday. Both district finalists qualify for the state tournament.

The EPC announced its 2021 boys volleyball all-stars last week. Jackson Fehnel was named to the second team. Alex Schoenen and Kody Whiteman were named to the third team.