Boys volleyball: Senior strength carries the day for Antioch

It just might be the year of senior at Antioch High School.

There are nine of them of the Sequoits' boys volleyball roster, and already it seems to be an advantage.

For the first time, the first game of the year turned out a winner for coach Jamie Atkinson's team.

Antioch has some serious weapons on offense, such as Sean Bering, Sam Lahti and Will Smithson.

But one kill, actually the first of the night, caught the attention of the Antioch players.

With visiting Grayslake North in the building on Wednesday night, the first point came on a kill from senior setter Nathan Cielek.

"No one saw that coming,'' noted Bering, another of those Antioch seniors.

Antioch handled the visiting Knights, 25-10, 25-20 in the Northern Lake County Conference opener.

"Antioch has a really good setter,'' said Grayslake North coach Nikki Kirchway. "He's really fun to watch."

Cielek has been a member of the Antioch varsity team for four years.

"I've played club volleyball since I was a freshman,'' Cielek said. "But I gave up club this time around. We have more consistent players this year. We have lot of good arms on this team."

With Cielek serving, the Antioch lead was just 8-6. Next up was one of those rare juniors, Kristian Jimenez. He had help from two strong blocks from Smithson. And soon enough, the Sequoits were up 16-7.

Bering managed a few kills down the stretch as the Sequoits breezed in set one.

"Last year, I came off the bench,'' Bering said. "But I played with the Lake County Volleyball Club. And coach Atkinson wanted me on the outside."

Antioch coach, Atkinson agreed with Bering's assessment.

"Sean was a role player last year,'' Atkinson said. "But now, he's really coming into his own."

As one-sided as set one, the second set was much closer. Brandon Lebaron opened the scoring for North with a thundering jump serving ace. The Knights actually surged to an 8-5 lead.

With Cole Pelegrino on the serving line, North had kills from Sage Lawson and Bryan Melgoza.

"In the second set, we really played well,'' Kirchway said. "We blocked well."

Antioch recovered with Bryan Ortiz at the serving line. Bering had a kill and the Knights helped out with a few mistakes.

Antioch held a 19-15 lead in the second set after Lahti registered an ace and Jimenez notched a kill.

"We got a little sloppy in the second set,'' Atkinson noted.

Bering noted the Sequoits graduated just two seniors last spring.

"We have the experience this year,'' he said.

Also playing for the Knights on opening night was basketball standout Jamal Thomas. It was his first time playing volleyball, and his athleticism was apparent.

North setter Melgoza had 9 assists. Austin Martineau had 4 kills and Lebaron added 3.

Bering had 4 kills for the Sequoits. Cielek and Jimenez had 3 kills each for Antioch, while Ortiz had 7 digs and Smithson managed 4 blocks.