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Salem beats Owls for 6th straight title

Friday, July, 09 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

Swift Justice

Incomparable Salem whips Owls for sixth straight title

By Dave Dyer

DERRY, N.H. — The championship beat goes on for the Salem boys volleyball team.

Masquerading with different identities at the start of Halloween weekend, the Blue Devils nevertheless stayed in character last night at Pinkerton Academy with a 3-1 win over Timberlane. It was the Blue Devils' sixth consecutive state title since New Hampshire began the varsity sport and their 112th straight victory.

In the first game, Salem acted like the U.S. Olympic team in a resounding 25-5 triumph. The Devils (19-0) looked like merely a good high school team while splitting the next two games, 25-20 and 23-25, before playing like an accomplished college squad in the clinching 25-10 finale.

While the state championships will probably blur together over time, it will be difficult to forget last night's opening game.

Chris Barnes served the Devils to a 4-0 lead and, after the Owls managed a point, Dan Tiner (20 kills, 19 service points) served 11 straight points as Salem went ahead 16-1.

Jason Kinney (game-high 21 kills) and junior Joe Gallant (6 kills, 5 blocks) led the imposing net game up front with help from Jared Scali while Chris DeMarco was remarkable with his defense and passing.

It was, quite simply, a clinic on how to play the game. It was also over in a "Swift" amount of time, which reflected the Devils' approach to the match.

"We were so pumped up, there was nothing stopping us," said Gallant. "Coach (E.J. Perry) read us a letter from one of our former players, Casey Swift, who was a starter on our third (state title) team and is in the Navy. He said to remember 'one team, one fight,' and that got us going."

"That was an appropriate line for us because no matter how talented individuals you have, and we have them, you have to play as a team to be successful," said Perry. "My kids were fired up and that's as good as any team I've had play in one game.

"It was just kill after kill, did after dig, and some great passing."

Timberlane, which entered the game with high hopes, was shell shocked.

"We came out nervous and didn't execute like we needed to," said Timberlane coach John Dube. "That team (Salem) deserves all the respect they get. If you don't execute against them, you're going to be in trouble."

Salem, however, couldn't keep up the furious pace. Led by junior Max LaRoche (6 kills, 7 blocks) and the serving of Conor Dube, the Owls won the last five points in the third game to extend the match.

The final game was almost a repeat of the first. Sparked by four Kinney kills, Salem zoomed to a 7-0 lead and breezed to yet another championship.

"I think this is the best team we've ever had," said Tiner, a three-year starter and the cousin of Andrew Tiner, the two-time Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. "We just have so many weapons."

Salem 3, Timberlane 1

N.H. state final

Kills: S — Jason Kinney 21, Dan Tiner 20, Jared Scali 7; T — Tim Anderson 9, Max LaRoche 6

Blocks: S — Kinney 7, Joe Gallant 5 ; T — LaRoche 7

Assists: S — Chris DeMarco 53; T — Conor Dube 26

Service points (aces): S — Dan Tiner 19 (4), Justin O'Brien 13

Digs: S — Chris DeMarco 10

Timberlane (16-3):âÇ5âÇ20âÇ25âÇ10 — 1

Salem (19-0):25âÇ25âÇ23âÇ25 — 3