Lancers Stung by Bees

LIVINGSTON - The volleyball team was hoping to to get another shot to play St. Peter's Prep, who knocked the Lancers out in the state playoffs last year.  This year, the Lancers were looking to meet them in the North 2 State Finals.

But Livingston's chances of getting that far were dashed on Wednesday by the Bayonne Bees, who stung Livingston in three games, 25-16, 22-25 and 21-25.

Livingston head coach Al Partelow gave credit to Bayonne for the win, but he added that mistakes by his team were instrumental in the loss.

"It was a lack of what we were doing or not doing that is what was hurting us," said Partelow, whose team finished the season with a 23-3 record.

He pointed out that there was a pivotal no call in the second game where a Bayonne player committed a net violation that could have changed the momentum.

"Volleyball is such a game of momentum," said Partelow, who added that his team played some balls that shouldn't have. "In the third game we lost our momentum and played three balls that were out of bounce. It put us on our heels."

Also, the Lancers were working so hard to get back in the third game that they were over hitting and causing the shots to go out of bounds.

"It's like the Yankees were doing the other day when they are over swinging," said Partelow.

The Livingston coach added that Livingston's J.P. Tirone had a big game with 14 kills and 14 digs.

"J.P. had a great game," said Partelow. "His first game was very good, but we didn't get him the ball enough in the second game."

In addition, Lancers Billy Williams added 11 kills and 12 digs. Livingston setter Justin Delman led the way in assists with 27 while the Lancers libero Ed Jung added 11 digs.

The Lancers, the second seed, appeared to be on their way to taking on top-seeded St. Peter's Prep, who beat Bloomfield.

Behind the power hitting of Tirone and some nifty serving by John Lee, Livingston won the first game and were on the verge of putting away third-seeded Bayonne with a 22-18 lead as a Bees hitter smacked a shot out of bounds.

The Lancers were only three points from sending this group of senior-dominated players to the state final.

But unfortunately for Livingston, some errors on the attack and Bayonne coming alive saw the Bees score seven straight points and send the match in a decisive third game.

In the third game, the two teams battled back and forth for the first half and Livingston's Shenyan Wang smacked a shot past the Bayonne backline for a 10-9 Lancer lead in the third decisive game.

But the Bees, behind the hitting of Richie Boyle and Kris Kucza, scored seven straight points to take a 16-11 lead.

During that period, Partelow called two time-outs to try to get his team out of its funk.

The Livingston head coach's cajoling worked a little bit as the Lancers cut the Bees lead to four, 18-14, as a Bayonne serve hit the net.

The Lancers cut the lead to two, 22-20, with a strong block from M.J. Vincent and Livingston might have been able to catch up to the Bees.

But the Lancers dug themselves too much of a hole as Bayonne's Matt Strzala registered a dig and Vincent's shot went too far to put Livingston behind for good 24-20.