Glenbard East beats Naperville North in 3 games
Some may think that an intense high school contest can only happen on a fall night in a football stadium or in a gym with snow on the ground.
Those who think that might not be familiar with DuPage Valley Conference boys volleyball.
As the heavens opened up outside Tuesday night, a large crowd in Lombard of both Naperville North and Glenbard East fans made their opinions known as the teams went to three games with the host Rams prevailing 25-22, 16-25 and 25-23.
Those involved in the match weren’t surprised as to how it unfolded with two strong DVC teams battling.
“We came out with intensity. In the second game it was hard to keep the intensity and we lost. In the third game we brought back the intensity and came out on top,” said Glenbard East’s Joe Farrell, who finished with 12 kills.
The win pushed the Rams to 9-2 overall and 4-1 in league play. The Huskies dropped to 11-5, 3-2.
Glenbard East clinched the match because in the first and third games it was able to take control, and even if the Huskies mounted a comeback and decreased the Rams’ lead or tied things up, the Rams kept playing well.
“When it’s the DVC, you have to bring your ‘A’ game every night,” Glenbard East coach Marci Maier said.
The Rams led for most of the final game but at most could only build a three-point advantage. A kill by Naperville North’s Matt Jennings tied the game at 22. The Rams’ Tim Shenkin sent a spike past the Naperville North defense to put his team back on top 23-22 and get the ball back.
Another kill by Jake Hamaker made it 24-22 with a Rams return error putting Naperville North to within 24-23. With the Huskies serving, they couldn’t stop a blast by Kevin Farrell and the Rams were victors.
The middle game was all the Huskies. A return error by Glenbard East put Naperville North up 18-9 and the teams exchanged points the rest of the way with the Huskies never in danger of losing the lead.
In the opening battle, the Rams led by as much as seven when the Huskies hit a serve out of bounds to put Glenbard East up 18-11. Kills by Ryan Loughlin and Shane Witmer put the Huskies to within 2 at 23-21 and 24-22. Glenbard East sealed the opening game win thanks to a Naperville North return error.
Henry Cheatham led Naperville North with 11 kills.
“We had lots of hitting errors. We had 17 hitting errors and it’s hard to beat a good and well-coached team like Glenbard East when that happens,” said Naperville North coach Nathan Bornancin. “We had a lot of momentum and energy in that second game. It went back and forth in that third game. Nobody is going to blow somebody out in that (third) game.”
Neither team has much time to reflect on this contest. The Huskies host Wheaton North tonight and start play Thursday in the Downers Grove South Invitational.
Meanwhile, the Rams are at West Aurora tonight and also compete in the Downers South Invite.
“We’re getting better. The team chemistry we showed tonight was not like that at the start of the season,” Glenbard East’s Kevin Farrell said. “Tonight was a tough match. We blocked well and played good defense.”