STATE COLLEGE — The expectations for the State College boys volleyball team were not the highest for 2023.
The Little Lions figured to be competitive, had some talent and had a good chance to win another District 6 title. However, with what they showed through the season, the bar was raised — then knocked down much earlier than hoped.
State College did win that district crown, but following a long layoff fell in four sets on May 31 at McDowell (Erie) in a PIAA Class 3A play-in match.
“The two-and-a-half-week break, the three-and-a-half-hour bus ride — nothing really added up,” said coach Larry Campbell, in his third season with the Little Lion boys. “We were pretty crisp in practice, but the first set we needed to win. They kind of expected us to win too, but we made so many errors.”
State College (11-4) had last played May 16, defeating Altoona for the program’s 19th district crown in the last 23 completed seasons. However, with no one to play or scrimmage, all the team could do was practice and wait, while other districts, and the District 6 Class 2A tournament, were just beginning. Campbell at least was able to recruit a few alumni to walk into the gym and provide some tough and different competition.
Still, when the team ambled off the bus in Erie, they were lacking the spark and energy they had in early May.
“It all just kind of added up,” Campbell said. “No one really played great.”
It resulted in plenty of mistakes and inconsistency. The most telling number was 44 team kills and 23 hitting errors during the 25-22, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19 loss to the Trojans.
Jett True’s 10 kills and three aces led the Little Lions, followed by Kieran Leahey’s nine kills and 10 digs, Kadin Karacky’s nine kills and Carter Weight’s eight kills. Freshman setter Derrick Campbell posted six kills on seven swings, 35 assists, 12 digs and four blocks, and freshman libero Lucas Keiter picked up 15 digs.
Larry Campbell, who racked up plenty of success, three district titles and one state title coaching the Bald Eagle Area girls, began coaching the Little Lions in 2020, along with long-time Lady Little Lion coach Chad Weight. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, that season never saw a match played. The following two seasons ended with records around .500. At that time, Larry Campbell counted only two players on the roster playing club ball outside of the school, and several were new to the sport.
On this year’s roster, nine are playing club ball and the experience and talent began to show.
The Little Lions didn’t win any tournaments, but scored success in each of them. Along the way were wins against three-time defending state champion North Allegheny and current District 7 champion Shaler, which is No. 1 in the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class 3A poll and No. 4 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association/USA Today Super 25 national rankings.
“As the season went on, we realized we could play with anybody,” Campbell said. “We faced almost every team you see in the rankings and we were able to hold our own.”
His team also had taken both sets with ease in a regular-season tournament match at Shaler against McDowell on May 13, and ended May ranked No. 8 in the PVCA Class 3A poll.
If the Little Lions had won that May 31 play-in match, they would have faced Canon McMillan in the opening round — which Campbell thought his team could win — then get a likely rematch with Shaler, and both matches would have been played in State College’s gym.
The loss to McDowell marked the final match for eight seniors, including starters True and Leahey. However, the State College roster was loaded with young talent, including freshmen at the first two primary ball contacts in Keiter and Derrick Campbell. Those two had been playing club ball together and were already comfortable teammates.
With more travel and practices, Larry Campbell knows his team will not be taking anyone by surprise, and the expectations will be much higher in 2024. He thinks it’s possible the Little Lions will be in the top five of the state rankings by next season.
Said Campbell: “I think we’re going to be a pretty tough out going forward for the next couple of years.”
