St. Francis, WW South to meet in sectional final
St. Francis volleyball took advantage of a big opportunity for some revenge Friday night, but it only opens the door for a bigger, tougher chance at some more revenge.
The Spartans, upset in last year's regional by Downers Grove South, avenged that defeat with a 25-23, 25-22 defeat of the Mustangs in sectional semifinal play at Glenbard East. With the win the 35-3 Spartans have advanced to the sectional finals for the third time in school history.
But waiting for St. Francis in Tuesday's title match is a Wheaton Warrenville South program that has ended St. Francis' seasons twice already in sectional finales. The 32-6 Tigers held off Downers Grove North 25-22, 25-22 in Friday's first sectional semi in Lombard.
"At the beginning of the year, our goals are always first to try and win state, and then we talk about wanting to beat Wheaton Warrenville South," said Spartans senior Mark Roberts, whose big night included 4 kills, 20 assists, 9 digs 7 service points and a pair of blocks. "It's gonna be extremely intense."
The intensity levels were plenty high in a warm gymnasium as the three-time defending state champion Tigers needed a 6-1 charge to rally from an 18-15 deficit in Game 1 to pull out the game 25-22 on its way to a tight sweep over a 30-win Trojans squad led by 7 kills from Greg Petty and 6 more from JP Tulacka.
WW South credited its big-game experience in past postseasons as well as its tough schedule this fall with helping carry it past a solid Downers Grove North squad.
"We play a real tough schedule and especially being in the (DuPage Valley Conference) prepares us for this time of year," said Tigers outside hitter Eric Luhrsen, who led the attack with 10 kills. "Making the big plays is key for us. In the matches we've lost we didn't make the run at the end."
Against the Trojans, the experienced Tigers quickly turned that 18-15 deficit into a 19-18 lead with a Matt Nussbaum kill and three straight errors by Downers North.
"No doubt," Trojans coach Mark Wasik responded when asked if WW South's experience played a role in the outcome. "I tried to preach to them we can do this for the first time, but at the end of the day we rely on a lot of youth. We really did not execute the way we're capable of, yet we lose by just three points in each game."
In the second match St. Francis jumped ahead 19-11 only to have the Mustangs storm back to within 21-19 and 22-20 before Joe Mordell ended the game with one of his six kills on the night for the Spartans. Dan McGuire also had 6 kills and Steve Howe 5 in the balanced St. Francis attack.
In Game 2 Downers South led 18-15 following a kill from Sam Kull and a an error by the Spartans, but St. Francis battled back to complete the sweep.
"It was a nice night for Wheaton," said Spartans coach Mike Lynch, whose team notched a school-record 35th win. "But it will be an even bigger night Tuesday when we square off against each other."