RURAL VALLEY — Mars had its hosts right where it wanted them.

Or so it seemed.

After dropping the initial two sets of last Tuesday night’s PIAA Class 2A first-round matchup with the Planets, District 6 boys volleyball champion West Shamokin fought back to take the final three.

The scores of the match were 18-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-20, and 15-12.

“For the first two sets, we were very loose and very aggressive,” Mars coach Mike Nypaver said. “After that, I think we got a little bit tentative, and they started to do some things that were really good. I think that we got a little bit tight there.

“The first two sets, the way we played was very promising. I think the gravity of the situation kind of showed its head there in the last three sets.”

The Wolves took the lead after the teams were knotted at four in the second game and held it until three consecutive hitting errors gave the Planets (17-5) a 23-21 edge. Mars senior Conor Tomcik closed the set out with two kills after that.

“We played tight and nervous to begin with, which I’m not sure why,” West Shamokin coach Scott Craig said. “I felt the momentum change a little bit in the second set, and I think the third set we just started to play our game … We played some tough teams this year. We went to a lot of tournaments to play.

“I knew if we got our composure back, we’d be alright.”

The Wolves overcame the same sort of deficit in the District 6 finals. This time, the response gave the program its first state playoff win in its 11-year existence.

“I knew as soon as we got in that third set and we started playing better, I could feel it,” Craig said. “I always tell the kids, ‘The third win is the toughest one to get.’”

The dynamic shifted over the final three games, welcoming the home crowd back into the mix.

“I think that they served us a lot tougher,” Nypaver said. “And I think No. 7 (Ezra Oesterling), their outside, got pretty hot out there. He put a lot of balls away for them.

“We kind of lost our momentum, we lost the pace that we were playing with, went away from some things, and opened the door for them — which they took full advantage of.”

The Planets didn’t trail over the first 32 serves of the third set, but hitting and service errors gave way to burgeoning hope for the home crew. West Shamokin controlled the latter half of the fourth game, carrying a load of momentum into the deciding fifth set.

Oesterling had 15 total kills for the home crew, six of which coming in the final game. His emphatic spike from the right side of the net to make it 14-11 — and essentially put the stamp on the victory — was a change in tactics from attacking on the opposite side of the court up until that point.

Tomcik finished with eight kills and two blocks for Mars; sophomore Derek Piatek nine kills, three aces, and a block; and junior Ryan Ceh 10 kills and two blocks. The latter two will presumably be back for a more experienced squad next spring.

“I think it was a pretty successful season for a young group of guys,” Nypaver said. “All but one were juniors and sophomores. So, hopefully we can make another run next year in that same position ... Hopefully improve our seed from WPIALs and be playing in that championship game.”

Cochranton 3, North Catholic 0 — The first WPIAL championship season in North Catholic boys volleyball history came to a sudden end last Tuesday night with a 3-0 loss to District 10 runner-up Cochranton in a first round PIAA 2A Tournament game in the Trojans’ gym.

“We just didn’t have it tonight,” North coach Stacie Ball said.

Match scores were 25-16, 25-21, 25-20.

“We played that first set like we were ready for summer,” Ball said. “We did bounce back and play better in the last two, but Cochranton played very well. They have a good team.”

Lucas Gunther led the Trojans with 14 kills. Drew Palmer had nine kills and Nate Ball four. Ro Alessandro led the team with 20 assists.

Alessandro — North’s setter — and middle hitter Luke Ball were the Trojans’ only seniors this season.

“We’re a young team and, factoring in the COVID year, this was only our fifth year as a program,” Coach Ball said. “We’ve been to the playoffs every year and have been to the WPIAL finals twice.

“I’m confident we’ll build off what we accomplished this season.”

North Catholic ended its season at 16-5.