Neuqua prevails over Glenbard East

Something had to give.

Glenbard East and Neuqua Valley came to the boys volleyball state quarterfinals with identical 36-3 records and a combined 28-match winning streak.

The teams played a three-game marathon earlier this season, but Neuqua Valley exacted redemption in the timeliest fashion.

The Wildcats broke free from ties on 8 consecutive points with a 3-point burst that culminated in a 10-5 match-winning run.

More coverage Slideshow Boys volleyball state quarterfinals

Sean Harmon, who had a match-high 35 assists, served an ace to close out the Rams' 17-match winning streak; the Wildcats (37-3), third in state last year, prevailed 25-21, 19-25 and 25-20 Friday evening at Hoffman Estates High School.

Neuqua Valley faces Buffalo Grove (30-5), which dispatched Oak Park in two games, in the second semifinal this morning.

"We have a lot of experience going into that third game," said Neuqua Valley outside hitter Jake Blackman, who led the Wildcats' attack with 13 kills.

But it was on the defensive end that Neuqua Valley rose to the occasion.

The Wildcats' Derek Menendez was the unsung hero. The junior had 8 kills and one-third of their 18 blocks to stem the Rams' ferocious attack.

"(Glenbard East) has two really good setters in Dan Mader and Mark Jones," Menendez said. "Our whole game plan was to take them away. We did an excellent job of playing defense."

In the decisive third game Glenbard East (36-4) scored the opening 3 points to resume its second-game resurgence.

Menendez had back-to-back points to forge the first deadlock since early in the first game, and the teams traded ties on every point between Nos. 9 through 15.

The Wildcats' Brian Clark and Blackman had kills during the critical 3-point burst that gave Neuqua Valley an 18-15 lead, and the cushion was extended to 22-17 on a vicious Rob Bauer kill.

The Rams' Tim Lovik, who led both teams with 17 kills, had consecutive points to bridge the gap to 22-20.

But Bauer and Collin Adler restored the Wildcats' lead with consecutive kills to set up the Harmon game-winner.

"I couldn't ask for a better bunch of guys my first year as a head coach," said Neuqua Valley's Erich Mendoza, whose team defeated Naperville North and Naperville Central in the sectional. "We've literally gone through the (DuPage Valley Conference, of which Glenbard East is a member) to get here."

"I still think we're under the radar," Clark said.

Neuqua Valley had 12 kills and 6 blocks to highlights its first-game victory, but Glenbard East never trailed after scoring the opening 5 points of the second game.

Mader closed out his sterling career at Glenbard East with 33 assists and 5 kills.

"We played our hearts out, but it just wasn't enough," said Glenbard East coach Marci Maier. "It was a fantastic match, back and forth, back and forth. I thought Neuqua Valley played a heck of a match this evening."