Boys volleyball: Neuqua Valley earns second at state

The stars literally aligned for Neuqua Valley's boys volleyball team when libero Francisco Comas got a text message from teammate Kevin Kauling.

The junior setter had flown back Friday from Colorado Springs, where he'd attended a Boys' Youth National Team tryout but wasn't among the dozen players selected.

"I texted Francisco, I'm like, I could play tomorrow because I'm not doing USA because they don't think I'm ready," Kauling said.

Wildcats coach Erich Mendoza had no problem fielding a 6-foot-7 weapon, an added bonus since senior Andrew Schlegel had excelled at setter during Kauling's absence after regionals.

"It was like a last-minute thing," Mendoza said. "It was definitely nice having him back."

But after beating three-time defending state champion Glenbard West in the state semifinals on Saturday at Hoffman Estates, Lincoln-Way East beat Neuqua Valley in the championship, 20-25, 25-21, 25-22. The Griffins (39-3) also won in 2014 before Glenbard West took over.

Neuqua (33-8) enjoyed its best finish in program history, over third place in 2007 and 2008.

"It's a great season. We overcame a ton of things, injuries, we had Kevin just come back last night. Obviously, no one thought we were going to be here," said Comas, whose 11 digs included a diving save using the back of his hand.

"Overall an amazing season, we made school history. It can't feel better, as sad as it is," said the McKendree University recruit.

The key to victory, Griffins coach Kristopher Fiore believed, was containing Neuqua outside hitter Jeremy Grove. The senior still racked up 19 kills, 3 service aces, 3 digs.

"I think that was probably his lowest output of the tournament when you're going three games," Fiore said, "and I thought that was the key to the match for us."

In Neuqua's victorious Game 1 the Wildcats closed on a 9-1 run with big plays by Kauling, junior middle hitter Jeremy Cardenas and Grove, who ended it on a kill and 2 aces.

Lincoln-Way East took a seesaw Game 2 - 10 tie scores, 4 lead changes - 25-21 to even the match.

Neuqua entered the championship 11-3 in three-set matches, yet Lincoln-Way East was a stubborn 10-2. After Neuqua tied the score 17-17 on a kill and a block by senior outside hitter Mark Borghesi, Lincoln-Way East went to the powerful Will McPhillips, George Kougan and Mike Herlihy, all 6-4 and up, to close it out.

"I think the main difference was we fell in our communication a little bit," Borghesi said. "Some of our serve receive and defense wasn't up to par - it obviously was in the first game. We played very well in the third game, we just couldn't pull through."

Kauling tallied 16 assists and Schlegel 14. Kauling had 6 kills, Borghesi 4, Cardenas and Matt Coyne 2 apiece and Ryan McGladdery 1 kill.

Grove plans to play on the club team at Miami University in Ohio.

"Volleyball is a great sport and obviously I'm going to stay with it for awhile," he said, "but I think as far as me playing for a school this would be my last match. I think that feels right."