The Garden Spot boys' volleyball team had already triumphed over Manheim Central in postseason play. Back on May 27, the Spartans topped the Barons 3-0 in the third-place consolation match of the District Three Class-AA playoffs.

Back came the Barons for another showdown, this one in the quarterfinals of the PIAA 2A state playoffs on Saturday, June 5 at Manheim Township.

The result was another Garden Spot victory - this one by a 3-2 margin. It advanced the Spartans to the state semis at Central York High School against the Lower Dauphin Falcons.

It was on Tuesday, June 8, where Garden Spot's quest for a state championship trophy was halted as the Falcons posted victories of 25-17, 25-16 and 25-18. Garden Spot fell to 20-4 on the year.

Laine King registered 11 kills and a service ace to lead Garden Spot in those categories. Jordan Martin helped his team with 24 assists and a pair of blocks while Tyler Martin finished with a team-high 11 digs.

Kaden Kirchhoefer and Luke Gibbs each poured in seven kills for the Falcons.

In their 3-2 victory over Central, the Spartans had to respond to a Barons comeback that made things rather uncomfortable down the stretch. With the first two sets in the books - both by the same margin of 25-20 - the Spartans were unable to score that match point until the tiebreaker fifth set. Manheim Central came back to win 25-23 in the third set and won by that same score in the fourth set to make it 2-2.

Blake Wagner was a difficult force to contend with as he poured in 18 kills for the Barons. Jeremiah Zimmerman led Central with four blocks and 41 assists.

King was an ever more fearsome force, swinging for 21 kills for Spot. Jordan Martin was a key factor as well, distributing 56 assists.

Chandler Xiong and Griffin Witmer each served up one ace while Tyler Martin again led the squad in digs with 36.