Central’s fast start fizzles as Staley secures sweep
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A crisp chill settled over St. Joseph on Tuesday evening, but inside Central’s gymnasium, the action was heating up. The red-hot Staley Falcons arrived looking to hand the Indians their second straight loss, and despite a strong opening set from Central, Staley completed the sweep, 25-22, 25-18 and 25-13, dropping Central to 9-6 on the season.
The Indians came out firing in the first set. Rifath Lian set the tone early, delivering a well-placed bump pass to Avery Whiteman, whose shot deflected off two Falcon defenders at the net. Moments later, Lian connected with Kenyan Larkin on the left side for a powerful spike that stayed in bounds, helping Central jump out to a 5-1 lead.
Central controlled the tempo early, forcing Staley into unforced errors. The Indians maintained a slim margin throughout the first half of the set, but the Falcons soon found their footing. A Central attack sailed long, tying the score at 9-9, and from there, neither team could build more than a one-point advantage.
The set became intense, as Central took a 17-15 lead after a Staley attack went out of bounds, prompting a Falcons timeout. The Indians pushed their advantage to three, but errors proved costly. A net violation handed Staley a free point, giving them the spark they needed, and then a serve dropped in the middle of Central’s back row for an ace, tying the game at 21-21.
Deadlocked at 22, the Indians had an opportunity to regain control, but a miscommunication at the net allowed Staley to capitalize. Brady Dawson’s spike was met with a block, sealing the first set for the Falcons.
Staley carried its late-set momentum into the second, jumping out to a 4-0 lead before Central’s Rick Engichi halted the run with a two-hand spike. Central battled back within two at 8-6, but from there, the Falcons took control. Staley’s passing game stretched the Indians’ defense, forcing them out of position.
Several Central returns fell short or sailed past the end line, allowing the Falcons to extend their lead to 14-7. Despite flashes of strong defensive play, Central couldn’t close the gap. The set ended fittingly, as Jaxon Limle and Charles Horn got a hand on a Falcons attack at the net, but the deflection dropped just inside the back line, catching the Indians off guard.
The third set mirrored the first in its early intensity, with both teams exchanging points. Central looked poised to make a final push, but Staley quickly shut the door. An 8-0 run blew the set open at 18-7, leaving little doubt about the outcome. The Falcons’ size advantage became more apparent as the match wore on, with their front-line defense disrupting Central’s attack. The final point was a powerful block at the net that sealed the sweep.
With the win, Staley improves to 12-2, continuing its strong season. Central looks to regroup before its next matchup at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at Park Hill South.
