It’s been several years since Liberty’s boys volleyball team defeated Whitehall, but that changed this week when the Hurricanes outlasted the Zephyrs, 3-2 (25-27, 25-16, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12) on March 28 at Whitehall.

Whitehall had opportunities to put the match away in the fourth set after coming back to tie four times, eventually taking a 20-18 lead with momentum on their side, but Liberty’s timeout seemed to disrupt that.

“I just told our guys to keep playing, don’t go in defense mode, and we kind of went into defense mode, and that’s a problem when that happens,” said Whitehall coach George Cowitch. “We errored three or four times in a row. You bring them right back into the match, and that’s not a good thing.”

Two out-of-bounds balls, a missed serve, and a ball hit into the net brought Liberty to a 2-2 tie, forcing a fifth set.

Liberty took a 4-0 lead in the fifth, but Whitehall pushed back on a point by middle hitter Ethan Guzenski, a kill by Gavin Kneller, and a return by Jack Kocher that dropped in front of Liberty’s side of the net.

As the Zephyrs continued to insert themselves back into the fifth set, Liberty coach Mike Zile called a timeout, and the Hurricanes returned to play with a shot to the middle and a 14-11 lead. An error on Whitehall ended the match.

“We have three or four guys who are new, and they’re young, so it’s a double whammy type of situation here with youth and a new lineup. I think that’s part of our problem right now, getting used to playing together,” said Coach Cowitch. “The season’s young. It’s the third game in, so we’ll be OK.”

After a back-and-forth first set, Liberty took a 21-18 lead, but Kneller’s kill, an out-of-bounds ball by Liberty, and a well-placed ball to the back corner by Whitehall opposite hitter Ethan Ringenberger set up the Zephyrs for the victory.

Whitehall also won the third set and led most of the time.

Guzenski’s early consecutive blocks, along with blocks by Kneller, Ringenberger, Kocher, and Michael Rabih, resulted in five points for the Zephyrs.

A well-timed point by Kneller put Whitehall ahead 23-20, and Liberty’s service error ended the set.

The Zephyrs are scheduled to travel to Bethlehem Catholic on March 30 when they will attempt to improve on their record of 1-2, having lost to Emmaus and defeated Notre Dame-Green Pond.

“I just said in the locker room, we’re in uncharted territory right now. I couldn’t even tell you the last time this program started off the season 1-2. It’s probably been maybe 2013. It’s been that long where we’ve had such a slow start,” said Cowitch. “I’m not used to it. I’m the leader of this program...We’ve just got to keep working, keep getting better, and that’s where we’re at.”

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The Whitehall volleyball team picked up a win over Notre Dame Green Pond recently.

The Zephs won handily in three sets, 25-4, 25-8 and 25-6.

Jack Kocher had 11 kills and five aces while Ethan Ringenberger recorded eight kills, seven digs, five aces and 13 assists.

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The Whitehall tennis team was able to pick up a win recently over East Stroudsburg South, 4-2.

However, the team started the year with a few losses, including an opening-day loss to Central 6-0. Nate Mak was able to keep things close at one singles, losing to Central’s number-one player Mack Zeller, 6-4, 6-2.

The next day, March 17, the Zephs fell to Emmaus 6-0. Vincent Tran at number-two was able to earn a point in his match against Nick Stone, falling 6-1, 6-0. The number-three doubles team of Tomek Karfarski and Evan Naia fell 6-0, 6-1 at three doubles.

On March 20, Whitehall fell to Easton 5-1.

Mak picked up a win at one singles, knocking off Cole Van Horan 6-3, 6-2. At three singles, Tran gave Ben Wallitsch a tough time before falling 6-4, 7-5. Peter Raffoul and James Kimble took their opponents to three sets before dropping their match at two doubles 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Becahi would top the Zephs 6-0, despite WHS contending in all three doubles matches. Raffoul and Ahmed Syed fell 6-2, 6-1 at two while Kimble and Derek Jimenez lost at three 6-3, 6-4 and Karfarski and Naia lost 6-4, 6-2.

The Freedom Patriots also won 6-0 on March 24.

This past Monday, Whitehall picked up its first win.

Mak won at one singles 6-1, 6-1 while Tran got a win at three singles, 6-2, 7-5. Two doubles teams also won, Raffoul and Syed won 6-0, 6-4 and Naia and Karfarski picked up a 6-2, 6-2 victory at four doubles.