Impressive start helps Vernon Hills past Zion-Benton

Forget for a moment that first set on Wednesday night in Vernon Hills, which ended firmly in favor of the hosts.

Now, that second set against visiting Zion-Benton? Well worth the price of admission. It wouldn't have been out of place as a boys volleyball sectional final.

The Zee-Bees (21-4) stormed to a quick 9-4 lead. And then things tightened up in a hurry, as the serving of Isaiah Liu helped the Cougars' cause.

By the time Dylan DeBoer (9 kills) went into serve, it was knotted up at 14-14. Yes, it went the distance and more.

In this statement match for Vernon Hills (15-6, 6-2), the Cougars prevailed in two sets - 25-18, 29-27.

"We really executed our game plan in that first set,'' said Vernon Hills coach Chris Curry. "We knew Zion would come out strong in the second set. Once we got even in the second set, we still made mistake after mistake. But we shrugged it off."

In addition to DeBoer's strong play, the Cougars had a strong night from their big fellow, Lem Turner (7 kills, 5 blocks).

"We definitely kept control of set one,'' Turner said. "Tonight we showed what were made of. You have not heard the last of Vernon Hills."

Set one was close until Johnny McDonald went into serve for Vernon Hills. His 7-point run at the line opened with a Turner block and closed with a Turner kill. In between, middle Chris Winter chipped in with a kill and a block. It was suddenly a 13-5 Cougars lead.

"I think our kids thought it was a big game,'' said Zion-Benton coach Jacob Carlson. "We were either a step fast or a step slow in that first set. Vernon Hills passed extremely well. Chris (Curry) does a great job with them."

If anything slowed down Vernon Hills in set one, it was its servers hitting the ball into the net. The lead dropped a few points. Setter Jared Bennett (13 assists, 10 digs) chipped in a kill to end the first set decidedly in Vernon Hills' favor.

"Jared is our setter and right side hitter,'' Curry said. "And he's made a big improvement in his defense."

Zion charged out early behind the serving of Oliver Villagomez. Zion standout Kyle Fitzgerald had a kill and block in the run.

"We settled down in the second set,'' Carlson said. "Our goal of a conference crown is not out of sight."

Vernon Hills' first lead of set two came on a net ace from Alon Polischuk, and it was 16-15.

Curry was pleased with the work of his middles, Winter and Ian Thoren.

"Combined they were 7-for-7 with 3 kills,'' Curry said. "And they never have many errors."

Vernon Hills looked ready to close this match up, leading 24-22. But a Fitzgerald block sent this set to more than 25 points. And then it seemed neither team could land a serve; DeBoer's kill gave the Cougars a 28-27 lead.

"Zion's a tough bunch," Curry said. "And that was a very nice win for us heading into sectional seeding."