Boys volleyball: Bartlett sweeps South Elgin for 9th straight win
The season might not have started exactly like the Bartlett boys volleyball team wanted, but it's full steam ahead now for the Hawks.
Toiyon Walton paced a balanced attack with 7 kills Wednesday night, leading Bartlett to its ninth straight win, 25-23, 25-17 at South Elgin.
After an 0-4 start to the season, Bartlett (9-4, 1-0 in the Upstate Eight Conference) is as hot as anyone.
"Last year we were improving, mostly a team full of sophomores. We're doing pretty good this year," Walton said. "I have a good feeling. We built that chemistry last year and most of us played club together."
Bartlett opened the year losing to Schaumburg, Palatine, Mundelein and West Chicago. Wednesday's win improved the Hawks' record to 8-2 against sectional opponents.
Coach Bob Schwantz said one of the main reasons for the success is their attitude.
"We're believing in each other," Schwantz said. "We're understanding people make mistakes and moving onto the next point where teams in the past dwell on it for four or five more points. I don't really have one leader out there, they are all playing the leader role and that's what we want."
Bartlett won the U-46 tournament over the weekend, then took down Glenbard North in 3 sets Monday.
"That win against Glenbard North Monday was big," Schwantz said. "Now they are playing like they can beat anybody. These guys are playing with a lot of confidence."
Garrett Jurina added 2 kills and 2 blocks against the Storm (4-4, 0-1).
"I always have confidence in our team," Jurina said. "Last year as a sophomore on varsity there were a lot of nerves and a lot of growth. Now with a year under our belt I think we're a lot more prepared for every team on the other side of the net. We're hoping for big things in the playoffs too."
Bartlett was in control throughout against the Storm.
South Elgin pulled within 12-8 in the opening set when King Thomas hustled deep in the back row to keep a ball alive, then Daniel Skrzypchak went even further back to get his arms on the next shot from well off the court and bump it all the way over the net. Bartlett proceeded to hit long, giving the Storm the point.
South Elgin junior Vince Miszkiewicz won a 50-50 ball at the net to cut Bartlett's lead to 14-13, and the Storm tied the set twice at 20-20 on Jacob Ozga's block and again at 21-21.
A kill by Walton put Bartlett back up, and his block on the next point made it 23-21. Walton closed out the set by putting away a ball in the middle.
"When your team can fight back that's something I'm glad to see," South Elgin coach Adam Plach said. "We have to get a little more out of our serve. We're missing some of our zones. We're giving guys too easy of a ball to play and teams can run offense. Bartlett is a very well-rounded team and that's why we can't give them such simple serves because they have hitters on the pins, the middles, and they take some good swings."
Tied briefly early in the second set 6-6, Bartlett surged with a 4-1 run to take the lead for good. Leading 19-16, the Hawks ended the match with a 6-1 spurt, getting their 24th point on Jacob Bush's ace and No. 25 when the Storm hit long.
Miszkiewicz led South Elgin with 6 kills, Thomas had 4, Christian Ayar set 10 assists, Skrzypchak had 5 digs and Ozga totaled 3 blocks.
"We're a young team that's struggling to find an identity," Plach said. "What I'd like to see out of my team a bit more is some fire. Guys move from spot to spot very lackadaisically."
In addition to Walton and Jurina, that balanced Bartlett attack Wednesday included Carter Burzlaff (11 assists), Jonathan Ruge (9 assists), Bush (4 kills, 1 ace) and Sohum Desai (9 digs).
"All our front row guys can put the ball down," Jurina said. "Both setters are very able. All our back row guys can get a good pass every play. Serving could be better but we're working on that. We're just really gelled as a team, we're having a lot of fun."