Lake Park gives extra effort to win in two

It's one thing to really want something, but it's another thing to do whatever it takes to get that something.

Lake Park's boys volleyball team wanted to finish off St. Francis in two games Thursday night on the Spartans' home floor after winning the opener 25-20. But after falling behind 10-4 and later trailing Game 2 by a score of 23-19, it looked as if the Lancers would be left wanting as the two teams headed off to a decisive third game.

But the visitors displayed plenty of heart - not to mention some stellar defense and timely hitting - to outlast St. Francis 30-28 to eventually come away with the desired sweep.

"We don't like going to a Game 3. We like finishing them off in two," Lake Park senior Michael Kreiser said after his 6-kill, 9-dig effort. "We started off slow in the second game, but we just pulled through. We had a lot of heart."

The Spartans (8-2), fresh off a tight win over Benet the previous night, were primed to extend the match to three games after a kill by Jack Mordell gave them a 24-23 lead. They had another game point at 28-27 following a hitting error by Lake Park (11-3), but after Matej Mitev tied the game at 28-all, the 6-foot Kreiser closed out the game and the match with powerful kills on the next two points.

"We have to have that intensity level at the end of the game to close out a match," St. Francis coach Mike Lynch said. "We had it at spurts, and it's a learning process for us. At the end Lake Park picked up the intensity level while we got tentative."

The Lancers also picked up their defense throughout the second game, diving all over the floor and making it difficult for the Spartans to pull away. Sophomore Michal Ragan had 13 digs, but 6-foot-3 hitter Patrick Proctor had 8 digs - along with 9 kills - and Kreiser finished with 9 digs.

"Honestly, I didn't think of a Game 3 at all," said Proctor, who tied the game at 24-all with a kill and then put his team on top 27-26 with a thunderous attack. "Our serve receive and defense is the most important. We love to hit, but you can't hit without passing and defense."

Lake Park setter Matthew McCown had 24 assists and the balanced attack not only featured big nights from Kreiser and Proctor, but Mitev added 7 kills and Matthew Ciaglia had 5.

For the Spartans, Mordell led the way with 6 kills and Dan McGuire had 5. Thomas Culligan led the defense with 9 digs and Steve Howe had 4 blocks for the home team.

"They were a lot more aggressive than us late in the game,' Mordell said. "There are a lot of positives we can take away from today, but we can definitely play better. At practice tomorrow we will pick up our intensity."