Exeter is rolling along unimpeded this boys volleyball season.
The unbeaten Eagles defeated Gov. Mifflin 3-0 in a Berks Boys Volleyball League Division I matchup Thursday at Reiffton.
The Eagles won by scores of 25-20, 29-27 and 25-13.
Exeter (6-0, 13-0) has not lost a set all year.
Gov. Mifflin (4-2, 7-3) kept things interesting in the first two sets, losing by a combined seven points.
“We really haven't been pushed in about two weeks,” Exeter coach Matt Hadley said. “We had a tight third set against Delaware Valley last week. That's really the first time we've been pushed. We've been playing pretty well the past couple of weeks. We got a little sloppy tonight and I give them credit. They played a lot of good defense, served tough, and made a lot of good swings to keep the pressure on us.”
In a rematch of last season’s Berks championship, both teams traded blows in the first set.
The Mustangs led 17-14 before the Eagles went on an 11-2 run. Momentum shifted after senior Chase Nugent's hard-hitting kill set the tone the rest of the way.
In the second set, the Mustangs controlled most of the set and appeared to be in position to tie the match at one apiece.
Exeter fought back to tie the set at 24. Each team matched the other’s point before the Eagles closed it out on a point that led to a discussion of whether or not the ball was in bounds.
Exeter took the second set 29-27, looking to close the match out in the third set.
Co-captain Gaige Gabriel led Exeter with 18 kills, five digs and one ace.
“Mifflin always plays us tough,” Gabriel said. “We know those guys, we know their coach (Ryan Stubler) and we're good friends with them. They always play us tough no matter what time of year it is. In the second set, they really played us tough. They kept us on our heels and in the third set I think we came out with a little more intensity, a little more focus and did our thing.”
Exeter took full control in the third set, jumping to a 5-0 lead and rolling to the 25-13 win.
For the Eagles, Chase Nugent had 10 kills, five digs and one block, Jack Forry had 28 assists, one ace and seven digs and Tyler Campbell had seven digs, two aces and four assists.
Carter Weyant had eight kills for the Mustangs and Derek Kintzer had five kills.
“I mean it's amazing,” Gabriel said on how the team feels at this point in the season. “We come in and work every day at practice. This is something that we thought was going to happen and it's happening so, it's a good feeling.”
PIAA Class 2A semifinalists a year ago, the Eagles are hoping to make another deep playoff run — six matches are left in the regular season.
“We realize everywhere we go there's a target on our back,” Hadley said. “Which is a good thing, means we're doing something right. We're still one game at a time. Just keep getting better every day of practice, and make sure every time we step on the court, we're ready to go.”