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Summit University head women’s soccer coach of 23 years Chris Davis steps down

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Rotary Club of the Abingtons: Club collects 40 bikes, 5 sewing machines for Pedals for Progress

<p>CLARKS SUMMIT &#8212; Abington Heights senior Rhys Yarns has played a big role in the success of the boys volleyball team over the past three seasons.</p><p>Yarns, who first began playing the sport as a freshman, credits head coach Jamie Spangler and the Comets staff for helping him adapt to different situations and position changes.</p><p>&#8220;They&#8217;ve really helped me fit into my roles and become a better player,&#8221; he said.</p><p>The Clarks Summit resident increased his dedication when he was added to the varsity roster as a sophomore.</p><p>&#8220;The older guys wanted to win games and I really wanted to help them out,&#8221; Yarns said. &#8220;My drive has progressed over the years and I want to get better and better.&#8221;</p><p>Yarns, 18, made a position change to libero, a player who specializes in defensive skills, this season.</p><p>&#8220;I think he was kind of hesitant at first, but he&#8217;s done very well,&#8221; Spangler said. &#8220;I think he&#8217;s embraced it a little bit and his ability to swing to the back row helps from his perspective because he wants to be able to contribute. He&#8217;s always been pretty athletically gifted and now he&#8217;s honing in on his technical skills.&#8221;</p><p>Yarns&#8217; best memory from his career at Abington Heights is the team&#8217;s win over Mountain View that clinched the Lackawanna League championship last season.</p><p>&#8220;We won it in the fifth set and there was a lot of emotion,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It was a big match.&#8221;</p><p>According to Spangler, the strongest part of Yarns&#8217; game is his serve.</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s led the team in aces for three years and that&#8217;s definitely been a huge help for us,&#8221; Spangler said. &#8220;We always use him as our first server every game because his serve is really brutal on opposing teams.&#8221;</p><p>Spangler also believes Yarns&#8217; commitment to the sport sets a good example for younger players on the team.</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s one of our captains and he leads by example,&#8221; Spangler said. &#8220;He always works hard and is focused on making adjustments. He&#8217;s always helping put up the nets and is always the first person leading the laps.&#8221;</p><p>The Comets have won their first nine matches of the season and Yarns believes the team&#8217;s perseverance has led to its consistent play.</p><p>&#8220;We can always rely on each other,&#8221; he said. &#8220;If one person messes up, there&#8217;s always someone else to pick them back up.&#8221;</p><p>Rhys, the son of Amy and Chris Yarns, plans to attend Penn State University and study biology.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Abington Heights senior Rhys Yarns has been a valuable member of the boys volleyball team as the starting libero this season. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_ABJ-AH-Volleyball-Yarns.jpg</photo0><caption0>Abington Heights senior Rhys Yarns has been a valuable member of the boys volleyball team as the starting libero this season. </caption0><photoCredit0>Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Volleyball player has worked on adapting his game</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Robert Tomkavage</p><p>rtomkavage@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Robert Tomkavage at 570-704-3941 or on Twitter @rtomkavage.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Abington Heights senior Rhys Yarns a key cog in the Comets’ volleyball success