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A setter is one of those positions volleyball teams need to have if they want any shot of winning. In a preseason tournament, the Furness Falcons lost one to injury. Their days should’ve ended there.
That was before Wen Bin Chen, who came to Philadelphia from China five years ago, stepped up.
‘Last year, my shoulder got injured," the 18-year-old, Center City resident said. ‘I decided to just get in there and try to do the best I can."
The senior did just fine. The Falcons put together their best season in program history, finishing fourth in the Public League standings with a 12-3 record.
The success earned the squad from Third and Mifflin streets a rare home playoff game. May 19, Furness defeated Kensington, 3-1, generating a lot of enthusiasm.
‘I can’t explain how excited I am," Chen said. ‘Kensington has more kids than us, so if we went to a fifth game we probably would’ve lost."
Furness took the first two games, 28-26 and 25-21, respectively, but lost the third, 20-25. The fourth match included some true drama, with Furness eventually taking the game, 27-25.
The Falcons advanced to the May 23 semifinals against first-place and defending Public League champ Masterman, a match Furness lost, 3-0. Sitting outside, waiting to enter the South Philly High gym, Broad Street and Snyder Avenue, the players seemed relaxed, playing Chinese card games to pass the time.
For Furness players, just getting a chance to get in the final four is a big deal.
‘We always try our best, but usually get kicked out in the first round," Chen said. ‘We’re just excited."
IN THE OTHER semifinal news, the High School for Creative and Performing Arts volleyball team defeated Central, 3-2. Today, at Community College of Philadelphia, there will be a rematch of last year’s Public League championship game, which Masterman won, 3-1. CAPA’s last championship came in 2004.
