BG in perfect tune

Never let it be said that the Buffalo Grove boys volleyball team can't carry a tune.

Or the weight of a perfect conference season on their shoulders.

Prior to Wednesday night's Mid-Suburban League title game the Bison, a perfect 10-0 this year in the MSL East, warmed up by singing a just slightly off-key a cappella version of the 1960's hit "Build Me Up Buttercup."

Then BG heated up the court with a 25-21, 25-19 MSL championship victory over West winner and host Fremd.

"I've been hearing that song for four years on the bus," said BG senior Mike McEvoy, who came up huge in the middle with 4 kills.

"Everybody knows the words. It's been a tradition here for about 10 or 12 years."

Senior middle Jim Wizniak added 4 kills for BG, junior Chris Falknor swatted 6 and senior Joe Ascher smashed a game-high 10.

"Eleven and 0 sounds a lot better than 10 and 1," said Ascher of BG's perfect run through the conference this year.

"Everybody on the team stepped up tonight," added McEvoy.

Senior outside hitter Kevin Prest led Fremd with 7 kills while setter Ben Whitmer had 22 assists for the Vikings, who couldn't catch up after falling behind early in each game.

"That was the key," said Fremd coach Curt Pinley. "We talked before the game about needing to get a lead on this team, but we didn't get it done.

"We were behind early by 4 points (8-4 in the first, 4-0 in the second) in each game. We basically sided out with them the rest of the way, but when you get down like that you've got to make a run, and we couldn't do that."

Fremd, which didn't lead at any point in the match, got as close as 21-20 in Game 1 after 2 consecutive kills by senior Daniel Teschner.

Then BG (25-5) ran off the next 4 points, highlighted by Joe Duda's game winning ace.

"We were playing our game," said Ascher. "We played solid defense and took it to them."

The Vikes rallied again in Game 2, tying it at 12-12 on a well-placed Whitmer tip.

The score was 14-13 when a couple of McEvoy kills, another ace from Duda and a Fremd line violation put BG ahead by 5 points.

Prest and senior Daniel Brophy (9-of-11 on service with an ace) tried to lead another Fremd (25-9)charge but Ascher hammered his final kill to close out the win.

"Early in the year," said BG coach Matt Aiello, "we weren't starting quickly. That became a focus for us -- we're an athletic team, and we wanted to get the games going at a fast pace.

"We locked up the East early, so our goal was to maintain focus, and realize how important every match was."

BG libero Matt Bronson recorded 18 digs while teammate Tom Angerame, who was voted MSL East player of the year (Mitch Wiskirchen of Schaumburg got the West honor), set 50-of-50 with 20 assists.

"With this win," said Angerame, "we can mark off one of our goals. Now there's just three more (regional champs, sectional champs, state champions) to go."