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Boys Volleyball: Austin Swanson's clutch serve clinches Oswego crosstown win

Hayden Castle, senior-laden Panthers continue to build big season

Swanson could breathe a little easier after this one. Swanson snapped a series of service errors by both Oswego and Oswego East in the last points of the match. He landed his, and moments later setter Anthony Maltese dropped in a kill to secure Oswego's 25-19, 27-25 non-conference win. (Sean King)

By Joshua Welge

Swanson could breathe a little easier after this one. Swanson snapped a series of service errors by both Oswego and Oswego East in the last points of the match. He landed his, and moments later setter Anthony Maltese dropped in a kill to secure Oswego's 25-19, 27-25 non-conference win. (Sean King)

The teams missed four straight serves, Oswego's two at match point, but Swanson was unfazed by the moment. "When we're in practice we pressure serve. We have to get the ball over, and coach will give us a zone," Swanson said. "If we don't get it over, we have to do punishment, run. So it felt really natural." It helps to have experience, and Oswego (11-6) does in spades. (Sean King)

Swanson, who started freshman year when his cousin brought him to open gym, is one. He started playing club the next year. He's one of 11 seniors for Oswego coach Franky Martinez. "I got lucky this year," Martinez said. "We have a group that has played together with club, and progressed throughout the season. Hopefully this match is another growing point for them." (Sean King)

Oswego East (9-13), on the contrary, is a younger team going through some growing pains after a banner 2018 season. The Wolves missed six serves in the first set – five of them hitting the net. Then they missed two more after rallying from down 22-18 in the second. "You have to make your serve at the end; that's kind of what it comes down to," Oswego East coach Brian Zerfas said. "We just didn't play characteristic volleyball. "That's something that we continue to harp on in practice, is the consistency piece that we have not had fall into place. This team can do it, by all means. We just have to take the next step forward." (Sean King)

Hayden Castle, like Swanson, was a late comer to volleyball for Oswego. He played basketball in junior year, and first tried volleyball as a freshman as a spring sport to stay in shape. Now a 6-foot-4 senior, he's emerged as a force. Like Oswego libero Ryne Anders a Loras recruit, Castle had a couple crosscourt kills in the early going of the first set Tuesday. In the second Castle's smash followed an Oswego East net serve and Ben Williams ace for Oswego to give the Panthers the lead for good, 20-17. (Sean King)

"We have a lot of seniors, we've all been playing together since freshman year," Castle said. "The chemistry is there, and the fundamentals. It's all coming together." Williams was another big hitter for the Panthers at the net throughout. "Hayden has been doing a great job of being a leader, and Ben Williams is a big factor that takes big swings," Martinez said. "That's something you can't replicate in practice." (Sean King)

Solomon Dail, a sophomore middle, had four kills, and Anthony Torres, JT Doggett and Jack Griffith had three kills each for Oswego East. Justin Jaeckel had 11 assists, helping spark the Wolves in the second set. "We changed the lineup. We had Jake Potter, we were running a 6-2 to start and he's an up and coming sophomore," Zerfas said, "but Justin brought a different sense of energy, something that we didn't have in the first set. He is a senior that has waited for those opportunities, he's been hustling and grinding. You can't ask for more than that." (Sean King)

Oswego student section reacts to a play during a Boy’s volleyball game against Oswego East in Oswego April 23. (Sean King)

Oswego East's Solomon Dail (17) serves the ball against Oswego in Oswego April 23. (Sean King)

Oswego East's Justin Jaeckel (18) sets the ball against Oswego in Oswego April 23. (Sean King)

Oswego Ben Williams (7) goes up for a kill against Oswego East in Oswego April 23. (Sean King)

Oswego head coach Francisco Martinez calls a play during a game against Oswego East in Oswego April 23. (Sean King)

Oswego East's head coach Brian Zerfas calls a play during a game against Oswego in Oswego April 23. (Sean King)

Oswego East's Solomon Dail (17) reacts after a score against Oswego in Oswego April 23. (Sean King)

Oswego Michael Ramos (12) sets the ball against Oswego East in Oswego April 23. (Sean King)

Oswego Hayden Castle (6) goes up for a kill against Oswego East's Omari Morris (12) and Justin Jaeckel (18) in Oswego April 23. (Sean King)