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By PAUL SOKOLOSKI; Times Leader Sports Writer
Wednesday, May 04, 1994     Page: 7B QUICK WORDS: ADAMS SERVES UP TIGERS’
PLAYOFF TRIP

TUNKHANNOCK — The best server on Tunkhannock’s team got on a roll Tuesday
night, and the Tigers rode it into the playoffs.
   
Gene Adams served eight straight points in the first game and added five
more in succession in the second, sparking Tunkhannock’s 15-5, 15-7 victory in
a key showdown with Pittston Area.
    “Gene Adams is our top server,” said Tunkhannock co-coach Rich Holdredge.
“He can put the ball any place on the court we want him to.”
   
And after he put it there, teammates like Mark Fassett and Nate Roote
banged home kills as Tunkhannock grabbed early leads in both games and eased
away for the win.
   
The victory, which came on senior parents night in the Tigers’ final
regular-season game, allowed Tunkhannock to enter next Thursday’s District 2
Boys Volleyball Playoffs at 10-2. Joining the Tigers will be Lake-Lehman,
which clinched the division title with a 2-0 victory over Nanticoke Area.
   
Pittston Area, which fell to 8-3, is now battling North Pocono (9-2) and
Wyoming Valley West (8-3) for the other two remaining district spots.
   
“We just wanted to get past this game and into districts,” Adams said.
   
“I think we have the momentum going into districts,” Holdredge said.
   
“We haven’t peaked yet,” said his brother Judd, the Tunkhannock’s other
co-coach.
   
Adams was certainly at the top of his game Tuesday.
   
With the score tied 3-3 in the first game, he served eight consecutive
points — including two that were unreturned. That gave the Tigers an
insurmountable 11-3 advantage.
   
In the second game, the senior brought Tunkhannock back from an early 3-1
deficit with five straight points from the service line, finishing the run
with an ace that left the Tigers with a 6-3 lead to keep.
   
“I was just trying to get it over in the spot my coach told me to,” Adams
said. “I had a lot of success doing it.”
   
Later in the match, he found more accomplishment.
   
Adams blocked three straight points to put Tunkhannock in a 14-5 lead,
finishing a run of five straight service points from Drew Hobbs.
   
“I’m playing a little bit better at the net,” Adams said. “Hopefully, I’m
good all-around.”
   
Pittston Area got a strong net game from Vinnie O’Hop, who recorded five
kills.
   
“We are confident,” Adams said. “But you can’t get overconfident. Because
it can hurt you.”
   
Lehman 2, Nanticoke 0
   
LEHMAN — Dan Lukasavage and Jarrod Baranowski had five kills each as
Lake-Lehman (11-0) rolled to a 15-7, 15-2 victory over Nanticoke, giving the
Black Knights their second consecutive WVC championship.
   
Lehman will seek to complete its second straight unbeaten regular season
when it hosts Wyoming Area Thursday. The Black Knights clinched the division
over Tunkhannock and Wyoming Valley West, both 9-2.
   
Jeremy Baranowski and Jermey Fleeger each had four kills for the Black
Knights.
   
Fleeger also played exceptional defense for Lehman.
   
N. Pocono 2, Valley West 0
   
PLYMOUTH — Despite some solid hitting from Valley West’s Steve Phillips,
North Pocono rolled to its eighth consecutive victory with a 15-10, 15-2
domination.
   
That made North Pocono 9-2 and put the Trojans in great shape to clinch a
berth in the District 2 playoffs, which start next Thursday and takes the top
four WVC teams.
   
Valley West, which fell to 8-3 and is battling Pittston Area for the fourth
and final district spot, held an 8-4 lead in the first game. But North Pocono
rolled off 26 of the next 30 points to take the match.
   
Wyo. Area 2, Crestwood 1
   
EXETER — Brad Altavilla had 12 kills to lead Wyoming Area to victory over
Crestwood.
   
The Warriors won game one 15-4, dropped game two 3-15 and won the third
game 15-10.
   
Carl Keiderling had 14 service points and Tom Broda played a fine
all-around game for the Warriors.
   
HIGH SCHOOL
   
FOOTBALL