Glenbard East takes no chances against Metea Valley

Glenbard East coach Marci Maier doesn't mince words when it comes to the Oswego East boys volleyball sectional. She thinks it's the toughest in the state and that every team in it demands respect.

So with No. 18 seed Metea Valley visiting Glenbard East on Tuesday night fresh off an emotional win over rival Waubonsie Valley in the quarterfinals, Maier's No. 2-seeded Rams made sure that there was no letdown with a 25-20, 25-23 victory. It was the Rams' 31st win of the season and puts Glenbard East in a regional championship it is hosting against Downers Grove North.

"We've lost some first-round regional games, so I don't think it's really difficult to keep the boys even-keel," Maier said. "Once you start the playoffs, you've got to be playing your best."

In the first game Glenbard East setter Andrew Hurlburt had a plethora of options offensively, with Nick Symonds and Tyler Greene on the outside along with Adam Eboli in the middle. All three hitters were striking it well, and Hurlburt kept Metea Valley off balance by spreading the wealth.

Hurlburt finished with 29 assists, while Nick Symonds managed 12 kills, Greene 8 and Eboli 7 for Glenbard East (31-5).

"It's awesome being able to have options. I can throw it out to the outside and get the kill. I can throw it to the middle and he bounces it pretty hard, too," Hurlburt said.

In the second game a couple of the Glenbard East sets broke down and Hurlburt couldn't spread it around as easily. But Nick Symonds proved to be reliable in cementing the victory. The senior had 8 kills in the game as Glenbard East finished off Metea Valley.

"Both of our outsides have done a heck of a job, but Nick has been our L1 the entire year and he stepped up and help put away the game," Maier said.

For Metea Valley (14-20), senior captain Tom Wieland led the team with 8 kills and a block in his final high school match.

"We had a good pregame practice back at school and we knew what we wanted to do," Metea Valley coach John Aister said. "They just played a little bit better than us.

"We won a game in the playoffs against a rival school, so that's a heck of a good season, if you ask me."