Boys volleyball: Lake Park overcomes St. Charles North

Jack Fischer was ubiquitous in the opening-set win by Lake Park on Tuesday evening in Roselle.

The Lake Park junior scored on both blocks and kills during a dominant Lancers run against St. Charles North in the boys volleyball sectional final hosted by Lake Park.

The junior then closed out the first game in style with back-to-back aces.

St. Charles North was much more competitive in the second set as neither team led by more than 2 points for much of the game.

But Fischer had a back-row kill, and the Lancers scored the final 4 points of the match moments later to clinch their third consecutive Elite Eight appearance this weekend at Hoffman Estates High School.

With its 25-15, 25-20 win over St. Charles North, top-seeded Lake Park will face defending state champion and unbeaten Glenbard West in a Friday quarterfinal.

"We didn't play (Glenbard West) in the regular season, but they beat us in the state finals the last two years," said Lake Park coach Tim Murphy, whose team improved to 30-9.

Third-seeded St. Charles North, making its first Sweet Sixteen appearance in three years, had its season close at 25-15.

"I'm glad that everyone had the mentality that we should win this and go for far (this weekend)," Fischer said. "We are a young team. I had been struggling (serving). My mentality is to get three in a row. If the ball is near me, I'm going for it."

The Lancers' junior led both team with 12 kills and 4 blocks.

"He's a terrific ballplayer," St. Charles North coach Todd Weimer said of Fischer.

The second set featured infrequent errors as the two former Upstate Eight Conference rivals combined for 25 kills.

The spread for neither side was never greater than two until Fischer had the last of his dozen kills off a Justin Yost feed to give Lake Park a 23-20 cushion.

Jordan Haigh was the Lancers' best weapon from beyond the service line.

In the opening set the sophomore had 10 consecutive service points to turn a tight 10-8 Lake Park lead into a commanding 20-8 bulge.

Haigh had an ace to give Lake Park match point.

The North Stars' season came to an end on the following point when a kill attempt sailed long.

"Actually, I miss-hit that ball," Haigh said of his ace. "It was kind of lucky. (The long first-set run) was not just the serves. It was the blockers up front."

Tom Koppang had 5 kills, and the duo of Andrew Lanz and Danny Hamilton had 4 kills each to pace St. Charles North.

"I think it's comical," Weimer said. "We make it to the Sweet Sixteen, and we don't have any guys playing at the next level."