Kelly, Montini turn back Wave
The St. Edward boys volleyball team was aiming to make it three straight wins to open the season on Monday, but previously winless Montini thwarted the attempt with a 25-20, 22-25, 25-15 Suburban Catholic Conference victory in Elgin.
The Green Wave (2-1) won its first 2 matches of the season against Westminster Christian and St. Benedict, but those teams don't possess a weapon like 6-foot-6 Montini senior middle hitter Pat Kelly.
Kelly was a force throughout, finishing with 10 kills and 9 blocks to lift the Broncos (1-3, 1-0) to their first win of the season.
"We just wanted it more, I think," Kelly said. St. Edward senior Jim Waclawik agreed with his opponent's assessment.
"We came out flat, and that put us in a bad spot right away," Waclawik said. "We weren't ready for that caliber of team yet."
In Game 3, St. Edward pulled within 8-6 on a spike by Lucas Belcher that deflected off the fingertips of the Montini block. However, the Broncos took control of the decisive game with a 5-0 run, which included an angled hit to the corner by sophomore outside hitter Erik Velkme, an ace by sophomore Danny Volturo and 3 Montini blocks against St. Edward hitters.
"Heart," Montini coach Kathy DiGregorio replied when asked why her players were able to bulge the lead to 21-10. "They were absolutely determined not to lose."
St. Edward took the lead for good in Game 2 at 16-14, thanks to back-to-back aces by junior D.J. Byrnes. Waclawik crushed a ball to the Montini back line to make it 22-18, and Kyle Butler closed evened the match at a game apiece with a rocket off his left hand for a point.
However, inconsistent passing kept the Wave from getting the ball regularly to setter Miguel Martinez (21 assists) in position to set Waclawik, Butler, Byrnes and Belcher for the attack. Beyond those outward technical reasons, the Green Wave didn't play motivated volleyball, according to their coach.
"This is the first competition that we've seen yet this year, and the boys just didn't step up and play as hard as they should have or could have," coach Jaime Walton said. "There was no teamwork. Passing defense was off, which means we can't get our offense going, so we lose our confidence and there is nothing to build on."
Montini Senior Carl Foreside contributed 7 kills and Velkme used his jump serve to score 17 service points. St. Edward was led by Waclawik with 7 kills, Byrnes (6), Butler (5) and Belcher (5).
Glenbard North d. Bartlett: The Hawks couldn't win either of two close games in a 27-25, 25-21 nonconference loss to the Panthers in Carol Stream. Senior Brian Limanowski and sophomore David Upp led the Hawks with 3 kills each, freshman Tim Urgena recorded 13 digs and senior setter Tim Rendall recorded 12 assists and 7 digs for Bartlett (1-2).
St. Francis d. Streamwood: The Sabres were swept by the visiting Spartans 25-14-, 25-16 despite 3 kills apiece by Brandon Nelson and Marcus Greene and 12 assists from setter Phil Montero.