Boys volleyball: Schaumburg sweeps Hersey to capture first MSL championship since 1998

Thursday evening's Mid-Suburban League boys volleyball championship between Schaumburg and Hersey had a couple of twists added to it prior to the opening serve.

First was that the two squads that finished in first and second place in the MSL West standings, respectively, earned their ticket to the MSL title game with wins over the East's top two finishers, runner-up Wheeling and division winner Buffalo Grove.

Next came the news that due to a pair of junior high school graduations scheduled at Schaumburg, the Saxons lost their home-court advantage.

The third twist was that the match was moved to Hersey's home court, the last place Schaumburg lost last month before going on a 20-game win streak.

After a 25-21, 25-14 sweep of the Huskies, they not only brought back their 21st consecutive win, the Saxons (28-4) also carried the program's first MSL championship trophy since 1998.

“I was really excited to play this match not only because it's history making, but (because) Hersey is a great team and we needed to play another really good team so (we) could get back into rhythm and carry this forward,” Schaumburg coach Cory Griffin said of his first MSL title.

In Game 1, Schaumburg got the heroics of 6-foot-6 sophomore middle blocker Charlie Mounts to help itself past the hosts. He played a role in 4 of their last 6 points, which included a pair of blocks and 2 of his 3 kills that came prior to junior teammate Alex Noga's game-clinching kill.

Game 2 saw Schaumburg’s Frankie Vincent take center stage as 2 of his match-high 7 kills plus 2 of his shared match-high 3 blocks were keys to a match-clinching 11-3 tear that Noga finished off with another of his 6 kills for match point.

“We all recognize that obviously we good talent, that anyone can go off and get 10 kills,” Saxons junior setter Aaron Shogren said. “When we can get everyone involved, that's what makes us powerful, which (can) make it impossible for the other team.”

Hersey (20-14) was led by juniors Kade Blasek (5 kills), Kieran Daly (3 kills, 3 blocks) and Andrew Avirmend (2 kills, 4 assists).

Huskies coach Laura Gerber acknowledged the visiting team strengths contributed to their difficulties in defending against them.

“Schaumburg is a great team. Super strong. They've got some really nice players and they're going to get their kills. We just didn't stop them like we needed to,” Gerber said.