Tigers buckle down for fourth title

The final boys volleyball match of the season bucked the trend of its weekend predecessors.

Wheaton Warrenville South, which outlasted its two previous foes in three-game epics, needed only 36 minutes to dispatch Buffalo Grove and defend its state championship in a 25-15, 25-20 victory.

It has been historically an all-or-nothing proposition for WW South at the state tournament; in six previous trips the Tigers hoisted the title four times or went home after the first day.

After an admittedly mediocre performance in the quarterfinals, the Tigers won the final two games against Providence on Saturday morning at Hoffman Estates High School to earn their fifth title appearance.

"I think that we did an excellent job of battling all weekend," WW South coach Bill Schreier said. "All the years we've been here, we've never played well on Friday."

There was only one tie in the opening game, and WW South four-year stalwart Eric Hardek finished a 4-point service run with an ace to conclude a game-opening 11-4 run.

Buffalo Grove, which defeated Neuqua Valley in three games to reach its first final, was never able to find any consistency.

With its formidable front line featuring three players 6-foot-7 or taller, WW South (32-6) imposed its will without relent.

"We all knew what we had to do, and we did it," WW South middle hitter Rob Samp said.

Buffalo Grove senior Jim Wizniak had consecutive points to bring the Bison within 12-8, but WW South dominated the play the remainder of the opener.

Samp had a kill and block kill over a 3-point span to re-energize the Tigers, who earned their first double-digit lead on a Neal Whittington kill.

Joe Kelly brought the Tigers to game point with another kill, and an unreturned serve closed out the first game.

"We didn't serve-receive (very well)," Buffalo Grove coach Matt Aiello said.

Hardek was once again the catalyst for WW South in the second game, and the senior became the first player in program history to be a part of three championship teams.

"I'm so happy that I went out like this," Hardek said. "I had the best career that anyone could imagine."

In the second game Buffalo Grove (31-6) led early, only to see the Tigers' 6-10 Neill Nystrom take command.

The senior had 6 points on either kills or blocks in the second game that featured equally consistent play from Samp and setter Joe Kelly.

The Tigers had an 8-3 run to break free from the final tie at 10-10, and Buffalo Grove, with half of its losses coming at the hands of WW South this season, never came closer than 3 points the rest of the way.

Hardek appropriately had the final offensive point for WW South, and the championship was secured on a serving error.

"When they were in system, we couldn't stop them," Aiello said.