After Central York clinched the YAIAA boys' volleyball league regular-season title on Wednesday night, Thursday's showdown between Dallastown and Spring Grove lost some luster. But even though the Wildcats and Rockets didn't have a league crown to play for, it didn't stop them in battling to a decisive fifth game.

The Rockets had just evened the contest at two games apiece and jumped out to a two-point lead in the fifth game, but that lead wouldn't last long.

Dallastown (9-1) quickly steadied itself and took the lead for good on Taylor Gingerich's block. The Wildcats led the rest of the way and won the match, 21-25, 25-18, 25-15, 23-25, 15-6.

"It's always going to be a good matchup when we play Spring Grove," Dallastown

Dallastown's Micah Bortner, left, blocks a shot by Spring Grove's Cameron Mummert during Thursday's match. Bortner finished with 10 kills and 10 blocks as Dallastown triumphed over the Rockets in five games. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Bil Bowden)
head coach Gabe Bishard said. "It was important to bounce back in the second and third games, because Game 1 was disappointing."

In the fifth game, Dallastown took a 3-2 lead on Gingerich's block.

The Wildcats eventually stretched the lead to 10 when Matt Rae blasted a serve that knocked the Spring Grove defenders back, giving Dallastown a 14-4 lead.

"I had some good runs and some bad runs," Rae said about his serving against the Rockets. "That's how we've been as a team the entire season; one night we're great and the next we're off."

That was evident in the first game when Dallastown gave Spring Grove a few points off missed serves en route to the Rockets winning the game, 25-21.

"We're a slow-starting team and came out flat tonight," Rae said. "That first game was a wake-up call. We understood that Spring Grove came to play."

Rae, who finished with 18 kills, 10 blocks and an ace, combined with other seniors Alex Bahn and Nate Leister to right the ship for Dallastown by winning the next two games.

Bahn had 27 assists, 11 digs and 15 kills. Leister had a huge game overall with 26 assists, 11 digs, 20 kills and 10 blocks on senior night.

"Those three are the backbone of the team," Bishard said. "Nate and Matt are a great blocking tandem and kill machine."

Bishard was also impressed by Micah Bortner, who filled a gap when Rae was off the court getting a breather. Bortner had a solid game with 10 kills and 10 blocks and helped fuel an 11-0 run by the Wildcats in Game 3 that set the stage for a 25-15 win.

"We needed that from Micah," Bishard said. "When Matt is on the floor, that is when we get our points, so we've been waiting for that all year."

The Rockets (6-4) forced the fifth game after pulling out the win in Game 4 following a 22-22 tie.

"I've been telling the kids two words lately: focus and discipline," Spring Grove head coach Bill Hahn said. "I don't think we had either in Games 2, 3 or 5."

Spring Grove was led by Jake Altland (nine kills, three aces). Bob Greiman finished with 11 digs and 11 kills. Phil Schorner handed out 29 assists and T.J. Swartzbaugh finished with 11 digs.

The teams will now focus on the YAIAA tournament, which begins Tuesday at
Dallastown.