In the course of seven days, the volleyball team played five games and made the most of those opportunities.

That crazy run started Wednesday, March 22, with an impressive 3-1 win over Central Dauphin, the defending District 3- 3A champ currently ranked 10th.

"That was a great win," lauded head coach Chris Telesco. "We squeezed out a 25-22 first set win. Then we did what this team seems to do so well- learn their opponent and adapt- and took the second set handily, 25-16."

But CD wasn't going down without a fight. They took the third set 25-19.

"This team is resilient and found its rhythm again to pull out a 25-22 win," said Telesco. "It was awesome seeing our new sophomore, Jason Osman, catch fire from the outside."

On Friday the Comets hosted Ephrata and pulled out a 3-0 win (26-24, 25-14, 25-22).

The Comets took advantage of an Ephrata line violation to take the first set. They took care of business in the second and broke a 12-12 third set tie by pulling away down the stretch.

"Our slogan this year is simply "We play smart. We play hard. We play together." And they do," said Telesco. "They found their swing and rolled through the rest of the match, allowing me to give everyone some playing time. Sophomore Harry Whited led with ten kills-an awesome feat that our two sophomores were kills leaders in the first two matches - but Roman Keefer led in points earned because of his seven kills and four blocks," he continued. "Not to be overlooked is the 28 assists and overall leadership of senior setter Wyatt Rohrer."

On Saturday, the Comets traveled to Dallastown where they fell short 3-2.

Manor shook off a sluggish first set loss, 23-25, with a solid second set, winning 25-16.

"But sometimes injuries interrupt," said Telesco. "Harry Whited took an elbow to the eye and had to come out the for the rest of the match. He already had six kills and would have had more. Yet the team responded, pulling out a win in that set and almost battling back for a win in the fourth set, too, losing 24-26. That's a testimony to some of our bench players like Wyatt Hopstetter and Vinne West, who both stepped up," he added. "In the fifth set, we made too many mental errors and lost 11-15. I do believe we would've walked away 3-0 had it not been for the injury. They will bounce back and pick up a win somewhere else-because that's the kind of team I get to coach this year."

Osman and Noah Reen (2 blocks) combined for 21 kills, Whited and Rohrer (40 assists) served up five aces, and Elijah Julian led with 15 digs.

Manor's marathon scheduled continued with back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday and with disappointing results. The Comets rallied from two straight losses to Elizabethtown with two straight wins but dropped the fifth set in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss.

Whited dominated at the net with 16 kills and both Rohrer and Reece Andreychek served up five aces. Julian (10 digs), Roher (34 assists), Luke Thomas (2 blocks) and Reen (2 blocks) also contributed.

The Comets opened their league schedule the following night with a 3-0 loss to visiting rival Hempfield. Game scores were 25-17, 25-20, 25-19. Whited, Keefer and Reen each collected four kills, Vinnie West added two aces, Julian settled for six digs, and Rohrer dished out 14 assists and put up two blocks.

TENNIS

The Comets' tennis team, returning their entire lineup from last year's 4-9 season, suffered a 6-1 Section One opening loss to Hempfield on March 22. After a 4-3 thriller over Ephrata a week earlier, the Comets managed just one team point against the Knights, an 8-5 No. 2 doubles win by Williams Steltz and Grant Rost.

"Our entire lineup returns," said head coach Amanda Pryzbylkowski. "They have put in the work, and I feel like we have depth this season and will do well collectively as a team."

March 29 the Comets struggled against Township and suffered a 7-0 shutout.

GIRLS' LACROSSE

After a 15-4 non-league win over Spring Grove on March 22, the Comets put up another lopsided 'W' two days later, crushing Garden Spot on the road Friday. The visitors piled up 14 first half goals, gave up one, and finished with a 22-3 result.

"We graduated just three starting seniors last year," said head coach Anneli Starry, "one of which was our leading scorer, but we have a strong starting lineup this year, as well as a bench so we can keep things moving at a fast pace."

Erin Shipley led the 26-shot attack, posting a game-high five goals and one assist against Spot. Claire Eckroat and freshman Joelle Kroesen (3a), both newcomers, followed with four goals while Grace Gerner and Mia Jones (2a) scored three times. Jarliah Ferko (1a) added two goals and Samantha Smith, also a freshman, added one goal and one assist.

"This year, everyone is a threat on attack and their chemistry is remarkable," said Starry.

"Our defense and goalies are also key returning players that have worked extremely hard," she continued. "Their teamwork and communication are incredible."

In the section opener Tuesday, March 28, Kroesen poured in five goals (1a), Catherine Rabatin added four (1a) and the Comets exploded for a 17-0 first half advantage over Ephrata and settled for a 19-5 win.

Eckroat added a hat trick with one assist, Erin Shipley (1a) and Mia Jones both scored twice and Gerner dished out two assists and scored once to round out the attack.

Brooklyn Ayala collected eight saves in the two wins.

BOYS' LACROSSE

The lacrosse team put together identical 11-3 results over the last week and sit at 3-1 overall.

Friday night, March 24, the Comets suffered an 11-3 loss to visiting Cocalico, falling behind 6-2 at the half and giving up five fourth quarter tallies.

"Cocalico just came off a state playoff run. They're an experienced group," said head coach Connor Rowe. "It's important to play your best lacrosse in May. We will be fine."

Eli Warfel (1g, 1a), Grant Bradburn (1g, 1a), Benedict Flinchbaugh (1g) and Aidan Gerlach (1a) also contributed.

In the league opener the 28th, the Comets broke a 3-3 halftime score with eight unanswered goals in the second half, posting an 11-3 win over Ephrata.

Flinchbaugh led the way with four goals while Warfel (2g, 2a) and Bradburn (2g, 2a) rounded out the multiple goal scorers.

BASEBALL

In back-to-back games, the 28th and 29th, the baseball team pulled out a 3-2 thriller over LS and then blanked Solanco in Quarryville.

The Comets fought off a 2-0 deficit against the Pioneers, tying the game when Cole Zink, who opened with a base hit, scored on a wild pitch in the fifth inning. Then, in the bottom of the eighth, Isaac Braegelmann's single up the middle plated Bryce Avery, who led off with a single and advanced on Spencer Stuarts' base hit.

"Isaac is our unsung hero, maybe the league's best defensive catcher," praised head coach Tom Fish. "I was happy he got the game winner and got to have that moment."

Avery fanned seven and walked two in 6.1 innings of work. Grant Frey got the win in relief, retiring all five batters he faced, including three strikeouts.

At Solanco Wednesday the Comets managed just two hits but pulled off a 4-0 win.

"We got a great outing from Danny Santana, who improved to 2-0 with five shutout innings, allowing just three hits," said Fish. "And Chris Hubbs earned the two-inning save, allowing one base runner.

"Isaac deserves some credit too, gunning down a baserunner in the fifth, ending Solanco's only real shot to get back into the game."

Trevor Adams opened the game with a walk. Skiadas was hit by a pitch and Avery's double plated Adams. Stuard followed with a sac fly RBI and Braegelmann's ground out plated Avery for a 3-0 lead.

Manor's fourth run scored on a Cole Zink single, plating Cole Miller who walked and stole second.

"Zink has been a spark plug at the bottom of the order," said Fish.

SOFTBALL

The softball team also played last Tuesday and Wednesday, knocking off L-S before falling to Solanco.

The Comets used a five-run fourth inning to help knock off Lampeter-Strasburg 9-2. A lead-off double by Bria Booth, base hits by Kira Green, Jordan Bailey, Maddie Mitchell and Amelia Trout and a late double by Julie Bowmaster broke the game open.

The Comets out hit the Pioneers 10-7 with Reagan Soboleski (2-4, 4 RBI) and Trout (1-3, 3 RBI) providing seven of Manor's nine runs batted in. Mitchell and Booth also had two hits each.

In the circle, Bowmaster went the distance with two strikeouts.

One day later the defending District 3 6A Comets hosted Solanco but couldn't quiet their bats. The visitors pounded out 16 hits and played error-free ball in an 8-6 win.

"We have seven starters back and once we settle in, we'll be ok," said head coach Dave Stokes. "We had four errors today and they were costly. And we're not hitting (8 hits) the ball like we can."

Manor led 1-0 after two complete innings but never regained the lead after Solanco forged ahead with two runs in the top of the third and batted around in the fourth, taking their biggest lead of the day, 6-1.

The Comets did fight back, plating four in the bottom half but never went back in front.

Green, who homered in the 6th, Trout and Soboleski each finished with two hits.