After needing five sets to win both of its first two state playoff matches, the Parkland boys volleyball team wanted to finish the PIAA Class 3A semifinal in more decisive fashion. The Trojans won the first two games of the semifinal match against Central York Tuesday evening at Cocalico High School and were looking for their first sweep since the District 11 semifinals. Parkland battled back from a late 2-point deficit in the third game to win the match 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 27-25). “Josh Nation brought it up after the second set, being up 2-0 and not waiting the third set to be a letdown,” said Parkland head coach Scott Trumbauer. “We responded the right way. Even when we were down late in that third set we just found ways, touches off blocks, crazy digs.” Parkland now looks to become a back-to-back state champ when it travels to Penn State University Saturday for the championship match. The Trojans enter the state final after playing what they felt was their best match of the year. “Everything we did today I think was the best we’ve done all season,” said Nation, who had 12 kills in the match, including the game-winner. “The way we were communicating today,” said Trumbauer. “It was a singular unit looking to achieve the goal we were looking to accomplish. Everybody played well. Everybody communicated. Everybody was talkative on the sideline. Everybody was one the right page today.” Parkland’s blocking kept Central York from maintaining momentum in the match. Luke Smith led the Trojans with 10 blocks with the help of teammates Brady Hayward, Owen Rodgers, Alex Wilby and Nation. “That’s been one of our things all year,” Trumbauer said of his team’s blocking. “They have so many offensive weapons that if we can put pressure on their serve receive and block, then we should be in a good place. They started to crack a little bit under pressure. Our block was big. It was constant. We had matchups in good places. The block was really helpful.” Parkland set the tone for the match early when it jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the first set and never let the Panthers with two points of the lead the rest of the set. The second set was tight early, but Parkland built a 20-14 lead before winning by that same margin to put the Panthers backs to the wall. In both of the first two rounds of states, the Trojans took the first two games before allowing their opponents to win the next two and force a decisive fifth game. In the semifinal they closed it out in the third set. “We struggled in the third set all year,” said Nation. “It’s been a thing for us to improve on that, when we get to the third set just keep pushing and keep doing what we do in the first and second sets. I think we did that today.” Central York, the District 3 champ which came into the semifinal at 18-0, led 21-19 late in the third set and failed to capitalize on two game points. The game tied 25-25, Parkland scored on point on a net violation and closed it out with Nation’s kill. The win over the Panthers gets Parkland a bit of revenge after Central York beat the Trojans in the boys basketball state title game in March. “We definitely wanted to get our revenge. Obviously that motivated us. We’re happy to get it back,” said Rodgers, who was a member of the PHS basketball team and is headed to his third state title contest in two years. “I couldn’t ask for more with my high school career here. To be able to cap off my season, after we graduated like a-week-and-a-half ago, it means a lot.” Parkland will take on Warwick, the second place team out of District 3, in Saturday’s title match at Penn State University at 1:30 p.m. Now deep into their second straight run to the state title game, this year’s class of Trojan seniors has as much big-game experience as any high school team could hope for. “When these kids were sophomores, we were in the state quarterfinals that year as well,” said Trumbauer. “It’s nearly impossible to have any more experience at this level. They continuing to keep achieving and earning their way.”