Boys volleyball: After three straight titles, Glenbard West places third
Glenbard West boys volleyball is in the lofty position of expecting a state championship.
The Hilltoppers had to settle for third at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, ending a three-year run of state titles, including the 42-0 team of 2016 that historically won all 84 sets.
In the semifinals eventual state runner-up Neuqua Valley beat the Hilltoppers 24-26, 25-22, 25-20 before Glenbard West (38-4) earned third place in two games over New Trier, 25-15, 25-22.
"Every year it's a different team, but you just try to hopefully have the same result as each team in the past. We were close but didn't really get it all, didn't get the end result," said Glenbard West designated server Jackson Roach, one of only three seniors on the squad.
After the morning-session there weren't many smiles as Glenbard West warmed up for the third-place match. Coach Christine Giunta-Mayer, now 376-120 in 13 seasons, fired up the boys.
"We just said, boys, you've been fighting all year for wins, why would you give up now?" she said. "This is just going to be a battle of what do you got left. We always teach them to finish strong."
They led Game 1 start to finish. Game 2 was knotted 11-11 until Glenbard West got the gap Giunta-Mayer sought on a Ryan Swartz kill and a Ben Harrington-Connor Williams combo block. New Trier (34-8) tied it late at 22-22, but the Hilltoppers ended on a 3-0 run capped by a Stone Metz block.
"We had a really young team this year. I don't think a lot of people expected us to get this far. I'm proud of the guys for being able to pull it out," said 6-foot-8 middle hitter, J.T. Ardell, a two-year starter headed to Pepperdine.
Roach, Ardell and outside hitter Metz were Glenbard West's sole seniors. That leaves a rosy future when returners include rocket-armed sophomore Harrington, junior setter Henry Curtis, who had 18 assists against New Trier, fellow juniors Williams, libero Zack Morris and outside hitter Swartz, who scored a match-high 8 kills on New Trier.
"For the next season we have almost all the same players and we have people that can fill the gaps," Swartz said. "It looks really promising."