The Parkland High School boys volleyball team won a pair of matches last week, one in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and another out of conference. The Trojans then concluded the week by competing in the Bobcat Invitational at Northeastern High School.

The Trojans made quick work of Dieruff last Wednesday at home, winning in straight sets by scores of 25-8, 25-13 and 25-15.

Owen Rodgers led the offense with 12 kills, Josh Nation added nine kills, while Will Stiles guided the offense with 29 assists. Head coach Scott Trumbauer was able to get his entire roster into the match to get experience as well.

Parkland had a tougher match the next night as it was taken to four sets at Southern Lehigh, but prevailed by scores of 25-12, 25-22, 12-25, 25-18.

Nation had 18 kills and five digs while Alex Wilby added 14 kills, 12 digs and one ace. Stiles dished out 49 assists and added two blocks. Kumayl Soonasra added 16 digs and one ace.

At the Bobcat Invitational, which featured 40 teams, including 13 of the 20 teams ranked in the PVCA state poll, Parkland lost in the championship bracket first round to the third-ranked team in AA Exeter Township 13-15, 15-13, 14-16.

Throughout the day the Trojans went 2-2 in the initial pool, losing the single game to Dallastown (32-30) and Pennsbury (30-25) while defeating Ambridge (30-23) and Northern York (30-24). That put the Trojans in third place in the pool and meant they had to walk across the parking lot to take on their neighbor, Whitehall in the play-in round.

Parkland came out hot and took the best-of-three 2-0 (15-11, 15-8). That meant they made the trip back across the parking lot to take on Exeter in the championship bracket. Shaler defeated Exeter in the quarterfinals, Pennsbury in the semifinal, and then Emmaus in the final to take the title.

The Trojans suffered just their first setback in conference play on Tuesday night at home, falling to Whitehall in five sets by scores of 24-26, 25-20, 11-25, 25-19 and 9-15.

Parkland, which improved to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in the conference, has a conference match at Easton on Thursday and then will compete in the Koller Classic at Central York High School on Saturday and then hosts Pocono Mountain East on Monday evening.