The Whitehall Zephyrs sure know how to host a party, and the Nazareth Blue Eagles were the perfect guests for boys volleyball senior night, the Zephyrs’ last home match of the regular season, won by Whitehall, 3-1.

Pregame warmups to the song, “Gangnam Style” put everyone in a celebratory mood before Whitehall seniors, Ethan Ringenberger, Jack Kocher, Omar Tembo, Michael Rabih, and Erick Zuniga were introduced and honored on the court.

“It meant a lot because we’re with guys we’ve been playing with for four years, and we wanted to get a win,” said Kocher.

The Zephyrs won the first set, 25-15.

A long rally in the second set ended in Whitehall’s favor when Kocher put a ball away at the net to make the score, 24-21, after players on both sides dove to keep the point going, and the Zephyrs outlasted the Blue Eagles, 25-23.

The third set was the most competitive, won by Nazareth, 28-26.

“We were a little frustrated,” Kocher said. “We were up some, and we should’ve put it away, but it happens.”

A well-placed kill by Blue Eagle Owen Hasker trimmed Whitehall’s lead to one point, 22-21.

Peter Tabarani made a huge play at the net to tie the set, 24-24, and Kocher hit a ball down the line for another Zephyr point.

Nazareth tied the game again, 26-26, but two out-of-bounds balls on Whitehall’s side cost the Zephyrs.

As spectators anticipated a fourth set, fans sang along to the song, “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band, and their enthusiasm carried through the rest of the night.

Late in the fourth set, Whitehall’s Cole Richards gave the Zephyrs a 4-point lead after crashing the scorers’ table on the previous play.

Ringenberger kept the Zephyrs ahead after four straight points by Nazareth, and Tembo scored after a nice dig by Kocher.

“At the end, when [Nazareth] was hitting balls into the net, I think we’re just a little more conditioned than they are, and it’s consistent with the way we practice,” said Whitehall coach George Cowitch. “We have phenomenal athletes, and I’m not worried about the end of a match because our guys are so conditioned.”

Whitehall won the fourth set, 25-20.

“We made a lot of plays, passing-wise,” said Kocher. “We got a lot of balls up that probably should’ve been kills but sets were perfect.”

May 1 will have been the last regular season match for Whitehall when they will travel to Northampton.

Regarding postseason play, Cowitch said, “Some of the guys that we’re gonna need when guys are keying in on Jack and Ethan, we’re gonna have to get those guys ready. I think Peter’s close and Michael. I thought Peter played well, and their libero (Noah Bogart) is really good. He made a couple plays on our guys.”