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WW South falls short

It turned out to be a pretty good season for what many pundits thought was going to be a rebuilding year for the three-time defending champion Wheaton Warrenville South boys volleyball team.

The Tigers (35-7) made it all the way to finals of the state tournament with a lineup that included only four returnees from last year's state champs, before losing to Marist in the championship match 25-22, 25-23.

"We played our hearts out and left it all out there," setter Eric Wilkins said. "We just fell a little short."

Wilkins thinks the doubters motivated the Tigers to accomplish great things this year.

"Our whole season was great," he said. "No one thought we were going to be here. No one thought we were going to win our sectional, and they even had questions about us in the regional. We proved everyone wrong and made it to the state finals. That's an awesome feeling."

The match was not without some heroics by the defending champs.

Marist, which was ahead through most of Game 1, led 19-12, when the gritty Tigers made a run at them and cut the margin to 24-22 before Dave Nelson ended it with a kill down the line.

The RedHawks also led through most of the second game, but WW South caught and passed them at 17-16 thanks to a pair of service aces by Thomas Jaeschke and a kill by Eric Luhrsen.

On the way to the finish line, the lead changed hands several times, but the Tigers were ahead 22-20 and threatening to send the match to a third game.

A 4-point run put the RedHawks (38-4) in the driver's seat, but a big solo block by sophomore Matt Callaway kept the Tigers alive.

However, the match and Wheaton Warrenville South dream of a fourth straight state title ended on the next play on a kill by Marist junior Kevin Morrison.

Middle blocker Matt Nussbaum led the Tigers with 10 kills and Luhrsen added 7.

"We lost some very good players off last year's team," Schreier said. "The expectations of others were incredibly low for us. These kids used that as a driving force for them all season. They've achieved something that 99.9 percent of the state would love to achieve. We can't lose sight of what's been accomplished. The hard work they've put in all season long has been fabulous."

Nelson was the kill leader for Marist with 8, followed closely by Casey Gray with 7.

In the semifinals earlier in the day, the RedHawks knocked the state's top-rated team Maine South from the unbeaten ranks after 40 wins. Maine South defeated Minooka in three games for third place.

"The day included a drive to stop an undefeated team," Nelson said. "And then we kept Wheaton Warrenville South from making it four state titles in a row. We wanted it so bad. We were thinking, 'No one wins four in a row.' Stopping those drives by Maine South and Wheaton Warrenville South makes it a little more special."

Marist coach Bob St. Leger is believed to be the first boys volleyball person in the state to win a state championship as both a player and a coach.

He was a member of Sandburg's championship teams in both 1999 and 2000.

"This is better," St. Leger said. "To see how far these kids came and to be a part of that is special."

Wheaton-Warrenville South players Eric Wilkins, left, and Bodie Ebergeny hold up the second place trophy after losing to Marist during the boys high school state final volleyball game between and Marist Saturday at Hoffman Estates High School. Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer
Wheaton-Warrenville South captain Bodie Ebergeny, right, comforts Bob Sieberlich after the loss to Marist during the boys high school state final volleyball game between and Marist Saturday at Hoffman Estates High School. Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer
Wheaton-Warrenville South players Matt Callaway, left, and Eric Luhrsen go up to block the shot by Marist hitter Dave Nelson during the boys high school state final volleyball game between Wheaton-Warrenville South and Marist Saturday at Hoffman Estates High School. Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer
Wheaton-Warrenville South player Matt Nussbaum spikes the ball part Marist player Pat Meyer during the boys high school state final volleyball game between Wheaton-Warrenville South and Marist Saturday at Hoffman Estates High School. Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer
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