Boys volleyball: New Trier, Warren talk a good game

There was a little trash-talking going on through the volleyball net at Warren on Thursday night.

Warren outside hitter Mihajlo Gomez and New Trier outside hitter Billy Fauntleroy admitted to as much after their match in Gurnee, which New Trier swept 25-20, 25-21.

But both Gomez and Fauntleroy had smiles on their faces when they recalled the verbal one-upmanship.

In fact, the two couldn't wait to extend a friendly handshake and chit-chat after the match was over.

"We play club together, for (Vernon Hills-based) Adversity," Fauntleroy said of his relationship with Gomez. "We've gotten pretty close over the years.

"It's a good rivalry. I know there was one time I got a kill over (Gomez) and we were getting a little smack-talk going, but it was all smiles. We don't take anything too personally."

Fauntleroy had a match-high 7 kills for New Trier, which improves to 9-1.

But Gomez had his fair share of big moments too. He finished with 6 kills for Warren (10-6).

"It's the same way at club practice too," Gomez said with a laugh. "We smack-talk when we play against each other there, too. Today it was just like memories of club season."

Fauntleroy and Gomez have plenty of club memories. Their team is one of the best in the region, and has won or placed high in many national and regional tournaments.

Club season is year-round and four days a week, except during the high school season in the spring.

There's travel and a lot of downtime together, too.

"We've been roommates on the road," Gomez said of Fauntleroy. We've spent a lot of time together. We're like brothers. All of our club teammates are like brothers. And we almost always win. Winning has made us even closer."

Winning in club has given Fauntleroy and Gomez opportunities in volleyball beyond high school.

Fauntleroy will be playing volleyball next year at the University of Southern California while Gomez will be playing next year at Loras College.

"I have gotten so much better through playing club and I have learned so much," Gomez said. "Everything has improved."

Warren probably could have used some better blocking to slow down New Trier's big hitters, like the 6-foot-8 Fauntleroy. The Trevians also have two other players who are 6-foot-7 and one that is 6-foot-6, two that are 6-foot-5 and one that is 6-foot-4.

"We try to use our size," New Trier coach Sue Ellen Haak said. "But we don't always want to be pounding the ball, we want to be able to mix it up and be (diverse). I thought we were able to do that more today."

New Trier also got 4 kills from 6-foot-5 outside hitter Kieran Hutchison as well as 10 digs from Ruben Greenstein. Setter Niko Gjaja rolled up 28 assists.

For Warren, Brett Bauer added 4 kills and 5 blocks while Hector Hiraz also had 5 blocks. Matt Daniel and Jaxon Bongratz finished with 9 and 7 digs respectively.

"There were times when we did a lot of things well," Warren coach Yun Chen said. "But there were times we didn't do those things. We need to be able to be more consistent."