Fremd reloads on way to Meadows repeat

The Fremd boys volleyball team may have lost four of six starters from last year's Mid-Suburban League championship team, but that's not stopping the Vikings from doing one of the things they do best - win tournament titles.

Fremd won three tourneys last year in addition to the MSL crown, and Saturday at the Rolling Meadows Invitational, it showed that this season may not be much different.

The Vikings didn't lose a match in taking the Meadows Invite crown for the second straight year.

"Just like last year, this will be a big confidence-builder for us," said Vikes senior outside hitter Jeff Chappell after his squad defeated the host Mustangs 25-23, 19-25, 25-12 in the championship match.

Elk Grove won the gold division consolation title with a 3-game win over Riverside-Brookfield, while South Elgin defeated Maine West 26-24, 26-24 for the silver division crown.

"This is the first time we've gone three games this season," said Fremd coach Curt Pinley, "but that's a good thing in these early tourneys. Going three games and coming from behind gives you experience that helps out later in the year."

"We lost a couple of early games this year but we had some people missing - they're back now and we have a rotation down and a lot of confidence."

The tourney was successfull for the hosts and first-year coach Tim Piatek as well. The Mustangs won their first four tournament matches before falling short against the Vikings.

"We came in here 0 and 3 on the year," said Piatek, "and now we're 4 and 4, so this was huge. I thought we competed well. It would have been nice to win, but I think we just ran out of gas at the end."

Game 1 of the championship match was tied at 23-23 before Chappell and setter Steve Maring put down kills to give Fremd the advantage. The Mustangs fired back by scoring the first 6 points of Game 2 to win and send it to the deciding game.

But it was all Fremd in Game 3, especially in the middle as senior Brian Allen (along with Chappell one of two returning starters) swatted 3 of his match-high 15 kills midway through to help put the game out of reach.

Maring, who is 6-foot-5, is in his first year of varsity setting after switching over from the middle.

"I thought Steve was outstanding today," said Pinley of the senior, who set 192-of-196 and had 79 assists overall for the tournament. "He played great, and his size can be an intimidating factor."

Chappell led the Vikes on attack with 32 tourney kills while for the Mustangs, senior Neal Butler took advantage of an offensive realingment to have a big day.

"We decided to go with a 5-1 instead of a 6-2," said Piatek. "That made Bryan Bourn my full-time setter - he's a kid who got a 36 on his ACT and we appreciate what he does out there - and that let us move Neal to hitting full time and he led us against Fremd with 11 kills."

Butler, an opposite, had no problem with the decision.

"Bryan's a great setter," said the senior, "and I enjoy hitting so it's worked out for the best."

Bourn had 30 assists against Fremd while junior Scott Shewmon also recorded 11 kills for the Mustangs.

"It was big to get 4 wins today, especially after going 0 and 2 in conference play," Butler said. "I felt like we were in synch all day and we really bonded and came together as a team in this tournament."