Aiming for perfection

Seventeen down, one to go. With a win in today’s Public League boys’ volleyball championship game against Masterman, the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts would defend its crown with an unblemished mark. It would be the first time a CAPA team claimed a title with an undefeated record.

"I am looking forward to it," said senior Marshall Smith.

The local squad advanced to the championship game with 3-0 wins over Frankford on Friday and Olney on Tuesday.

Coach Rick Shields was concerned about filling the void left by junior and "good blocker" Chris Kaye, who broke his right thumb earlier this week.

But the Pegasus still managed to dominate Olney in Tuesday’s semifinal at Southern with scores of 25-14, 25-14 and 25-15.

The winner of today’s championship game at Community College of Philadelphia will qualify for next weekend’s Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament at Penn State University. Unlike other sports, all the teams will compete in a two-day pool-play tournament June 3 and 4.

The downside for CAPA is the tournament starts at 8 " the morning after the senior prom.

But before the big dance, the squad is focused on the big game and clinching the team’s third Public League title.

"Volleyball is all about momentum," Smith said. "Right now, we’ve got all the momentum and we are going to ride."

THE FURNESS FALCONShad hoped to face CAPA in the semifinals, but Olney eliminated the South Philly squad 3-1 in Friday’s quarterfinals. Furness opened the first game with a commanding 20-11 lead, only to lose 25-27.

"We just couldn’t put them away," Furness coach Marv Lenetsky said of his 11-5 squad. "That took a lot of wind out of us."

After losing the second game 22-25, the Falcons prevented the sweep by winning the third match 25-19. That would be as close as Furness would get, as Olney took the fourth and final game 10-25.

But with five of six starters returning, the Falcons expect to make another postseason run. Senior Jian Mei is graduating next month.

"The kids are already talking about next year, which makes me feel good," Lenetsky said.