Addison Trail adds to busy week

Addison Trail senior boys volleyball players Alex Dickmann, Joey Nasti, Zack Vaca, Jonny Valentini, Jack Vrchota and Kevin Andrews just made their final week of high school a whole lot crazier and memorable.

The final day of classes is Thursday. Friday is prom. Sunday is graduation.

Now add to that list the first state quarterfinals appearance in program history.

The Blazers realized that dream Tuesday with a 26-24, 25-18 victory over St. Patrick in the St. Patrick sectional final in Chicago.

"There's no feeling to describe it. No words to describe it. It feels great," Vaca said. "Nobody can change it. It's ours. We have the title. Our names will be remembered until somebody beats it."

Addison Trail (33-6) will play Friday's fourth quarterfinal match at Hoffman Estates at 6 p.m. against Hinsdale Central (25-12), also making its first state appearance.

Dickmann led Tuesday's victory with 18 of the Blazers' 25 kills and just 3 errors. Nasti and Vaca also were key contributors.

How big was this victory? Before this season Addison Trail had five regional titles, including 2014, but had never even reached a sectional title match before beating York 25-18, 25-17 Friday.

"It means a ton to get that game - plus this one. It means a ton considering it's the first time our school's ever done it," Dickmann said. "It would be nice to bring back a big (top-four) trophy."

Addison Trail coach Chad Grant also played for the Blazers. This year's team now shares the single-season school record for victories with his 2004 team and last year's 33-5 squad, which was eliminated by fourth-place state finisher Lake Park.

This was the payoff from the growing pains of putting these seniors on varsity as sophomores and going 16-19 in 2013. Dickmann and Vaca agreed that this year's more favorable sectional bracket also served to motivate the team.

"I think the big thing tonight was just our experience," Grant said. "We have (several) seniors, desperation. They don't want their careers to end."

The Blazers actually faced losing the first game at 24-23, but after they called a timeout, guess who received the set?

Everyone knew, yet Dickmann still delivered the game-tying kill. The Blazers then scored the next two points on errors by the Shamrocks (25-13).

"It wasn't a blazing serve so I knew (the set) was going to come to me. I just needed to find a way through the block because they were doubling me the entire game," Dickmann said.

Before St. Patrick could regroup, Nasti served the Blazers to a 7-0 lead in the second game. Once they regained that margin at 12-5, the Shamrocks never came closer than four points.

"When we stole the first game, our experience just kind of wore on. We came out strong in the second game and we were able to weather the storm," Grant said.

Five seniors started and Andrews came in to serve two points, including game point in the first game followed a timeout. Dickmann had 8 kills in each game and is closing on the IHSA's all-time documented total for individual kills.

"Lately, I think he's feeling healthier than has all season," Grant said. "He's springing off the ground and some of those balls are just undiggable. When our passes go off the net, they knew where the ball was going and he's still putting the ball down to the floor every time."

On March 26 Addison Trail lost its season opener at St. Patrick in three games but was without Nasti due to a broken collarbone. Vaca debuted at outside hitter after playing libero.

St. Patrick had just one senior starter Tuesday, Dylan Kolovitz, who had 8 kills and most of its attacks. The Shamrocks lost another starting outside hitter, a junior, to an ankle injury May 16.

The Shamrocks had 18 kills with 17 errors. They gave the Blazers two aces by receiving out of rotation.

"Just too many unforced errors (tonight)," St. Patrick coach Joel Anderson said. "That was on us. That was uncharacteristic for us. I think people got a little bit clammy, which happens with a young team."

For most veteran teams, one bigger issue is prom. For some Blazers, it's volleyball Friday and then off to festivities at the Museum of Science and Industry.

"I'm playing, showering (at Hoffman Estates) and then going straight there. They have a limo going (to wait) for us," Vaca said.