Loud and clear, Terry's play lifts Lake Park

About the only thing Lake Park senior Dominick Terry couldn't do during Tuesday's boys volleyball match with Glenbard East was speak.

"I don't know what it is. My throat's just closed. Screaming all match, it's gone," Terry said. "There was a point I couldn't even talk in the game. Before the game I couldn't breathe. I don't know if it was the adrenaline or what, but it kicked in. It worked."

As usual, there was plenty for the Lancers and their vociferous fans to scream about. They are one step closer to at least sharing the DuPage Valley Conference title after beating the Rams 25-15, 25-18 in Roselle.

Terry helped the Lancers (27-6, 12-1 DVC) with 12 kills - 8 in the first set - and 3 blocks, and he served the last seven points of the match. Seniors Jeff Yost, Quin Krisik and Anthony Amore also had big nights.

Nick Symonds and Sterling Glover, Ben Symonds and Andrew Hurlburt led Glenbard East (25-11, 7-6).

"Dom Terry was absolutely a beast tonight. By far his best match of the season," Lake Park coach Tim Murphy said. "There was a lot of energy in the gym. The speech beforehand was it was like a playoff atmosphere. He's the No. 1 guy where if the energy is high, he plays his best."

The last three points summarized Terry's effort. His final kill came from the back row to put the Lancers ahead 23-18.

Terry then received the OK from Murphy to try a jump serve. It went down the near sideline for the Lancers' only ace.

When Terry returned to using a floater on match point, the ball was passed over the net and an awaiting Yost put it away.

"That's why we had (Terry) stop jump serving because his floater is so good and he never misses," Murphy said. "He's got a wicked jump serve. It's just not as consistent as we want it at this point."

Glenbard East's other opponent Tuesday was the clock. Senior setter Cory Soehren was in the starting lineup, but he had to leave by 6:40 p.m. to attend an event in which he received a cash scholarship.

Just before the opening serve, Soehren was replaced in the 5-1 offense by Hurlburt, a junior who was part of a two-setter offense with Soehren earlier this season.

Lake Park zipped to a 7-1 lead and was ahead by at least four points the rest of the set.

"If our JV had won in two, then we probably could have played the first game or so with (Soehren). It was time for him to go and he had to go," Glenbard East coach Marci Maier said.

"They're a good team. They executed and their offense was rolling, although we played much better in the second game. I thought Andrew did a nice job running the offense. I thought my kids battled. That's all I can ask them to do."

In the second set the Rams took a 10-6 lead after four straight points concluded by a Glover kill and solo block by Erik Fiebrandt.

After a Lake Park timeout, however, the Lancers scored the next six points to pull ahead 11-10. The Rams led again 15-13, but Matt Lovelace's kill for the Lancers on serve receive tied the set 18-18 and Terry followed with his serving streak.

"The last time we played them, the first two points were a terrible pass by me and then I hit into a block," Terry said. "We know a lot of them and we knew this was for conference so I just did what I could to help my team win a title."

In its first year in the DVC, Lake Park is co-leader with Naperville Central with one match left Thursday. The Lancers are home for Senior Night against eighth-place West Aurora, and the Redhawks visit sixth-place Naperville North.

In 2012 Lake Park won an Upstate Eight Conference title en route to reaching the state quarterfinals. This year's squad has 11 seniors. One of them, regular starter Shawn Fritsche, remains out recovering from an injury.

"(Winning conference would be) really big, actually, because with the DVC being Wheaton Warrenville South, Naperville Central, Naperville North, these are big volleyball schools," Terry said. "We weren't really looked at to come in and take over the whole conference like we have and it's been a fun experience."

Glenbard East ends DVC play with a home match against Wheaton Warrenville South. A Rams victory will give them a share of third place with the Tigers.