WW South settles down, settles in
Host Wheaton Warrenville South had two opponents in Monday's season curtain-raiser: Downers Grove South and opening-night jitters, and the Tigers prevailed over both.
The Tigers overcame a 14-error first game in which they trailed 23-17, and settled down to win 26-24, 25-18 in nonconference boys volleyball action in Wheaton.
"We had a lot of communication errors in the first set," said Wheaton Warrenville South middle hitter Jerry Loar. "We made a lot of errors, missed a lot of serves. But we made a good run at the end of that set and played much better in the second game."
Tigers coach Bill Schreier was happy with his team's comeback in the match, the 17th straight season opener between the two teams.
"We didn't execute very well at the beginning," Schreier said. "But then we rose up to the challenge and we were able to dictate play. Later on we got a lot of our serves in and that gives the opponent the opportunity to make mistakes."
When the Tigers trailed 23-17 in the first game, Ben Carpio stepped to the service line and Wheaton Warrenville South scored seven straight points to take the lead.
An ace by Zack Meyer sealed the deal at 26-24.
WW South was much better in the second game, jumping out to a 9-5 lead behind some excellent blocking work by the front line of Loar, Meyer and Plamen Pavlov. At one point the big men put up three blocks in a row for points.
The scrappy Mustangs stayed with them, though, and tied the game four times before the Tigers, again with Carpio serving, went on another 7-point run before Pavlov ended it with a kill.
"This was the kind of match we would have lost last year because we were a young team," Schreier said. "But it helps that we have five starters back. They're just more comfortable in a pressure situation."
The coach was also pleased with the balanced scoring as Loar, John Hildebrand and Meyer had 6 kills apiece and Pavlov added 5. Carpio had 21 assists and 4 digs, while Hildebrand had 4 digs and 2 aces.
Kyle Harty led the Mustangs in kills with 5 and Will Tischler had 4. Bregin DeMarco led in digs with 5.
Downers Grove South coach Kurt Steuer pointed out that his team, which is younger than it has been in several years, may also have suffered from first-night nerves.
"We built a good lead and then our passing broke down at the end of the first set," Steuer said. "After that we made more errors than they did. They passed well and put the ball down well. If we don't give our setter a three-option pass, it's going to make it easier for them to set up a block. They played outstanding defense."
Steuer was pleased that his team regrouped and stayed tough to the end.
"Our passing improved later in the match," he said. "We'll learn from this and get better with experience."