Whitehall’s boys volleyball team turned up the intensity against Easton with each set in the Zephyrs’ 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-11) sweep of the Red Rovers on April 21 at Easton.

“It was important. This proves what we can do,” said Whitehall setter Bryce Schache. “They are a dominant team, so us coming out like this is a big step up. Our energy was different today.”

While each team challenged the other in the first set, Whitehall took over in the second set and led 14-2 when Easton coach Jennifer Martellucci called a timeout.

The Zephyrs then widened the 12-point gap to a 16-point lead.

“I hit a few long serves, and then I saw them creep back a little bit, so I hit it short,” said Whitehall libero Brandon Bird, who was able to catch the Red Rovers off-guard. “I was trying to make sure I got my reads right.”

Despite a 10-point lead early in the third set, the Zephyrs never let up on the Red Rovers who were having trouble handling the attack of Ethan Ringenberger and Jack Kocher and blocks by Schache and Ethan Guzenski.

In a big play by Whitehall’s Andrew Sodl, the Zephyr freshman had a play-saving, one-handed dig, and middle hitter Gavin Kneller scored the last point of the match.

“Every day we’re out to get better, and that’s what we did today,” said Bird.

Ringenberger had 20 kills, 11 digs, Kocher had 13 kills, 9 digs, Aiden Parvel added 5 kills, Bird had 13 digs, 4 aces, and Schache had 10 digs, 39 assists.

“Playing offense at the net gives me a chance to attack and a lot better chance for me to get the good ball and set a perfect ball,” Schache said. “I feel like we’re gonna keep going. We still have a lot of fight in us.”

Two days earlier, the Zephyrs traveled to Dieruff where they picked up a 3-1 win over the Huskies (27-25, 25-16, 23-25, 25-15).

Ringenberger had 20 kills, 17 digs, 1 ace, Kocher tallied 14 kills, 13 digs, 3 blocks, Parvel chipped in 7 kills, and Schache added 47 assists, 12 digs, 5 aces, 2 blocks.

In addition, Whitehall hosted Pocono Mountain East on April 24 and sent the Cardinals home with a 0-3 loss in the Zephyrs’ sweep, 25-19, 25-19, 25-11.

Ringenberger had 12 kills, 10 digs, 1 ace, Kocher added 10 kills, 7 digs, 1 ace, Kneller tallied 6 kills, 2 blocks, and Schache had 31 assists, 8 digs, 1 block.

Whitehall will host Pocono Mountain West on April 28.