Volleyball all-stars named

After leading their teams to the playoffs, post season accolades poured in for several local boys’ volleyball players.

Blue Ridge’s Cameron Franks, Susquehanna’s Bryce Baldwin, and Forest City’s Nicholas Andrews and Matthew Giles were selected by the Scranton Times Tribune to the All-Region team, after all four were selected as Lackawanna League All-Stars.

Franks led Blue Ridge to the league championship in his junior season and shared Player of the Year honors with Andrews. On the season, Franks had 175 kills, 172 digs, 104 service points including 34 aces and 13 assists.

Coming into the season Franks knew that besides his action on the court he needed to fill the void created by the graduation of some previous season’s teammates.

“Being a junior and with experience I had, I knew I had to step up as a leader,” said Franks.

Although surprised by being recognized as Co-Player of the Year, Franks prepared for his junior campaign by playing an extensive amount of volleyball during the off season. Franks played in a local league at Green Gables, a league in Binghamton, and with Andrews and Baldwin as part of the Northeast Alliance AAU Volleyball team.

“All that extra playing helped me develop more of a relationship with the game,” added Franks.

Andrews – along with Giles – led Forest City to second place in Lackawanna League play. The junior had 167 points including 32 aces along with 183 assists, 82 kills, 84 digs and 54 blocks.

Giles had 130 of his 306 career kills during his senior year of play. He also had 137 points along with 112 assists.

Baldwin led Susquehanna to the playoffs with 140 kills and 70 blocks while towering over the front line in league play. A three-time League All Star, Baldwin finished his career with 304 kills and 192 blocks.

The foursome was joined on the Lackawanna League first team by Western Wayne’s Matt Henneforth and Abington Height’s Matthew Pacyna and Chance VanSickle.

Locals who earned nods on the second team included Blue Ridge’s Ben Bleck and Garrett Conklin; Mountain View’s Ethan Mack and Preston Petts; and Susquehanna’s Jarrett Dinniny.

Calvin Scheideler and Evin Davies of Blue Ridge earned Honorable Mention honors, as did Elk Lake’s Ben Hoal, Nate Preston, and Mitchell Schwartztrauber; and Mountain View’s Jake Andzulis.