Tigers find their way against Wheaton North

"Tiger volleyball" has produced four state titles in the last five years.

Thursday night at Wheaton North that championship volleyball was not on display throughout the match with the rival Falcons, but there was enough strong play to allow the Tigers to pull off a 25-17, 25-17 DuPage Valley Conference sweep.

"We've got the skill and the players, but tonight we had too many unforced errors and we left holes in our blocks," said Wheaton Warrenville South middle blocker Rob Samp, who had 7 kills and 3 blocks against Wheaton North. "When we did what we're supposed to do and played Tiger volleyball we pulled it out."

A young Falcons squad hung tough for much of each game before the Tigers, who boast eight seniors and 11 returners from last year's state championship squad, made enough big plays to close out the match in two games. The opener went back and forth early before the visitors broke from a 17-13 lead to win by 8 points.

The Falcons (2-6, 0-2) trailed 20-15 following a kill from Hunter Thorson, but the Tigers (11-2, 2-0) got back-to-back winners from Neill Nystrom and then a kill from Samp on their way to closing out Game 1.

The second game was similar as a pair of WW South errors allowed the hosts to draw even at 10-10 and it was tied again at 12-12 following a pair of kills by the Falcons Thorson and one from the Tigers' Nystrom, who finished the night with 8 kills.

But once again veteran setter Joe Kelly settled down his troops and allowed the taller, quicker Tigers to gather themselves and close out yet another victory. After the Falcons got within 19-15, the defending champs used a 6-2 surge to finish off their rivals. Kelly set up Mueller's match-ending kill to end up with 26 assists and 7 digs on the night.

"The reason the games were as close as they were was because we made some mistakes," Kelly said. "We pulled them out by cleaning up our side of the net."

Tigers coach Bill Schreier agreed with his setter.

"Disjointed would be a nice way to describe it," he said. "We need to keep track of balls a little better on our side. But all in all I was pleased with the fact that we were able to put streaks together in stretches."

Wheaton North coach Ryan Baker was proud of his players' effort and the fact that they stayed close with the Tigers for most of the match.

"We're young right now and we're working out the kinks, but I was happy with how our guys battled with them," Baker said. "Their size and speed combined is difficult to deal with, especially this early in the season, but we'll learn from this."