Exeter Girls Volleyball Captures BCIAA title with 3-0 over Berks Catholic, District 3 play ahead....

"The fortune favors the bold" is the saying coach Jason Grove has been preaching to his Exeter team all season.

In its biggest moment yet, the team lived up to those words.

Exeter left no doubts in winning the Berks girls volleyball championship 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-13) over Berks Catholic Tuesday at West Lawn

"We've been wanting this all year," junior Blair Eckel said. "It's such an accomplishment."

It is the Eagles' third Berks championship in the last five years.

The upperclassmen led the way for the Eagles (16-0) with strong defense and a nearly flawless hitting performance, accounting for double-digit kills each set while keeping the errors limited to three per set.

Early, it was senior Emily Hangen and Eckel getting the chances. They helped hold the lead in the first set after the Saints (14-2) went out to a small lead in the first set and then rallied to tie it 12-12.

Hangen finished with a match-high 11 kills and Eckel added nine. Setter Alexis Schwenk finished with 32 assists; freshmen Drew Kofke and Abby Campbell finished with eight and six kills, respectively.

"It's not a huge secret that when the chips are down we are going to get Emily the ball a lot," Grove said. "Alexis knows that when we need a point in a crucial moment that Emily is her best friend and can just put the ball anywhere."

Once Exeter put away the first set, the offense continued to build leads, which, combined with serving and defense, prevented any chance of a Berks Catholic comeback.

Both teams begin District 3 play Saturday at Garden Spot. Exeter plays Cedar Crest in Class 4A, after Berks Catholic plays Lampeter-Strasburg in Class 3A at 3 p.m.

To read the rest of the story, please check out the article on the Reading Eagle - http://www.readingeagle.com/sports/article/girls-volleyball-exeter-wins-berks-championship