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Boys volleyball: Lake Zurich surges into state semifinals

That's one crazy, effective serve you've got there, Alex Krasowski.

On the biggest day of Lake Zurich boys volleyball history, Krasowski came up big.

The St. Patrick lead was 6-3 in the first set of the IHSA state quarterfinal at Hoffman Estates on Friday. When Krasowski finished serving, it was 9-7 Bears.

Lake Zurich will grab a medal on Saturday. The basketball heroes, Nick Meyer and Andrew Gilbertson, also came up big, as the Bears won 25-19, 25-21 in their first state appearance.

"That lefty put a spin on the ball," St. Patrick coach Joel Anderson said.

"My serve wasn't that good at the start of the season," said Krasowski, the lefty. "And then I started with a big toss out front."

Lake Zurich (30-10) will play New Trier (35-5) at 10 a.m. Saturday in the semifinals. The third-place and championship matches are at 4 p.m. and 5:15 p.m., respectively.

St. Patrick (26-9) had a star of its own. And on 1 of Marcin Piechocki's 8 kills, the Shamrocks had a 17-16 lead in the opening set. For St. Patrick, the bad news came when Krasowski again headed for the serving line.

Meyer (8 kills) and Gilbertson (5 kills, 2 blocks) helped on offense, and the LZ lead was 23-19.

"The basketball team went to sectionals and we went to watch," Lake Zurich coach Lesly Ravenscraft said. "And these guys, (Meyer and Gilbertson) have made the transition to volleyball."

It seemed all the momentum was on Lake Zurich's side as the second set kicked in. This time, setter Jeff Carmody led off the serving. He landed a pair of aces and the Bears' lead was quickly 5-0. Again, the Shamrocks didn't quit. St. Patrick, winners of 13 straight, caught the Bears at 16-15.

This, time, however, Jeff Gorey, stepped up at the serving line.

Meyer delivered a few kills and the Pat's defense didn't prosper as Lake Zurich took a 21-18 lead in set two.

With Amos serving, Gilbertson delivered a big block to pull his team in the lead at 24-20.

"It was really less about Lake Zurich," Anderson said. "And more about our unforced errors."

St. Patrick's top hitter notched a .333 percentage. The winning Bears were led by Gilbertson (. 833), Nate Amos (. 600) and Krasowski (. 375).

Amos (4 kills) was his usual steadiness in the middle.

"We've got the support of the kids," Amos said. "Everyone on the team wants to make history here."

"We want to leave a legacy at the school," Meyer said.

"This will get Lake Zurich on the map," Gilbertson added.

In Ravenscraft's first season in 2010, the Bears went 5-29. Their 30 wins easily top last year's mark of 20.

Carmody notched 19 assists and also paced the Lake Zurich defense with 7 digs.

St. Patrick, a team that did lose a match in May, was making its third trip to state since 2009. The Shamrocks registered 17 kills but had 16 errors.

"We are such a dominating team," Amos said. "This team is so deep. We played very well today."

  Lake Zurich's Nate Amos (15) raises his hands in triumph after winning a point during Friday's state quarterfinal match against St. Patrick at Hoffman Estates High School. Morgan Timms/mtimms@dailyherald.com
  Lake Zurich's Jake Gorey (7) spikes the ball during Friday's state quarterfinal match against St. Patrick at Hoffman Estates High School. Morgan Timms/mtimms@dailyherald.com
  Lake Zurich's Andrew Gilbertson (14) reaches to spike the ball during Friday's state quarterfinal match against St. Patrick at Hoffman Estates High School. Morgan Timms/mtimms@dailyherald.com
  Lake Zurich's Alex Krasowski (10) and Nate Amos (15) attempt to block the ball during Friday's state quarterfinal match against St. Patrick at Hoffman Estates High School. Morgan Timms/mtimms@dailyherald.com
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