Boys volleyball: Glenbard West opens defense of state titles with victory
Call it a difference in philosophy, and safety first won.
Two-time defending state champion Glenbard West got 6 kills from Matthew Scruggs, 5 kills from Johnny Winkler and 11 assists from Sean Farmer to defeat West Aurora 25-21, 25-15 Thursday in Glen Ellyn and extend its winning streak to 62 matches.
West Aurora did not help its cause by committing 12 service errors in the match, but coach Tolis Koskinaris said his team is going to live and die by being aggressive from the service line.
"We serve aggressively," he said. "That's just the way we play. We were joking about starting our jump serves all the way back to the green (the area behind the end line of the basketball court). The score is going to end up like that when you have that many service errors."
Glenbard West coach Christine Giunta-Mayer, on the other hand, saw enough service errors from her team in Game 1 to prompt a change in strategy.
"You cannot start a game with two missed serves and we will not be starting a game with two missed serves again," she said. "I told the guys they have to buy into my philosophy and understand that a ball on the court wins games. You have to trust your defense."
West Aurora led 11-10 in Game 1, but five errors, including three from the service line and a Scruggs kill, allowed the Hilltoppers to grab a 17-13 lead. The Blackhawks got within 19-17, but another error and a Scruggs ace squashed the rally.
Game 2 was all Glenbard West (1-0). Three kills by Winkler helped the Hilltoppers build an early 14-4 advantage and the hosts were never threatened.
"It's nice to know you can lose guys like Paulie (Bischoff) and Kyler (Kotsakis) and Will (Church) and have kids that are ready to step up," Scruggs said. "Although they were really good players, we have kids who can step up and get the job done. We just keep rolling."
However, Giunta-Mayer still saw room for improvement.
"We have to work on our block," she said. "Our block is usually much better. And we were nervous, We weren't reading as well, But the juniors played great. If those two groups (seniors and juniors) can figure it out together, it will be great.
Six-foot-7 outside hitter Thomas Kovanic led West Aurora (1-1) with 9 kills and Tommy Garcia added 15 assists.
"Our passing was bad in the second set," Koskinaris said. "We're actually a decent passing team. We just got too tight. A lot of these guys haven't played in this kind of match before. But I have a feeling we'll see them again."