Lake Zurich does it again

The IHSA would recognize this as a colossal upset.

After all, No. 15 seeds are not supposed to knock off No. 3 seeds, as happened Tuesday. And in the regional title game, that same 15th seed probably shouldn't be in the match with a No. 6.

But now, for the first time in school history, that 15th-seeded team from Lake Zurich is a boys volleyball regional champion.

On Wednesday night at home, the Bears (20-18) stopped a powerful club from Palatine 25-20, 28-30, 25-18.

"We were so pumped,'' said Lake Zurich slugger Nate Amos. "Just like when we beat Buffalo Grove (the No. 3 seed). We are just much more unified now."

Amos fired off 13 kills in this match that went the distance.

"That's unheard of for a middle,'' said Lake Zurich coach Lesly Ravenscraft. "He's always want to be set more and now he's getting it."

Even without the seeds, Palatine (26-11) had handled Lake Zurich in two sets a few weeks back.

"We knew they had excellent athletes,'' said Palatine coach Frank Stark. "Lake Zurich did a great job of executing."

Set one was knotted at 13-13 before 5-foot-4 Paul Lee went in to serve for the Bears. A Nick Meyer kill opened the service, and it was soon 18-14 Bears.

"In the postseason, our energy level has been much better,'' Meyer said.

Meyer, too, had a splendid night for the winning Bears. He finished with 11 kills and a block.

"For the first time, Nick played club ball,'' Ravenscraft said. "He has a new confidence and has improved his hitting strategy."

A pair of Matt Carmody kills (8 kills and 2 blocks) were key in the first-set win.

And then both teams showed what pure volleyball was all about the second set.

Palatine showed off some power. Aided by a Tyler Kendzior kill, the Pirates' lead was 10-7. Kendzior, Joe Fricano and Ryan Campbell were three key seniors in Stark's lineup this spring.

"My seniors were a pretty phenomenal group,'' Stark said. "There was a lot of leadership. They were also phenomenal kids."

The Pirates prevailed in set two 30-28.

"We had a big talk after this set,'' Meyer said. "We wanted to put an end to this match."

And frankly, set three was all Lake Zurich. Palatine forged just one tie at 4-4.

With the tension of a game-deciding third set, there was a little humor - except, perhaps, for when Amos fired a serve at the Pirates which fell far short, instead conking a teammate on the back of the head.

With sophomore setter, Matt Carmody serving, an Amos block and a serving ace helped the Bears' lead grow to 14-8.

Palatine's offense was stymied by Lake Zurich's solid serving in the third set. In fact, the Pirates did not score a single point on offense, and four of their points came on Lake Zurich's mistakes. Meyer's kill ended the match.

"We had a rough start this year,'' Meyer said. "But we've been building for this all year."

Lake Zurich senior Austin Keller had 9 kills and 2 blocks. Setter Carmody notched 41 assists.

It will be an all-NSC semifinal match Friday night in Antioch as Lake Zurich and Vernon Hills will battle at 6:30 p.m. for a berth in the sectional final.