St. Francis edges Wheaton North

St. Francis entered Tuesday with 17 more wins this volleyball season than Wheaton North. Yet this regional semifinal was hardly one-sided.

The host Spartans and the No. 13 seed Falcons, matching up as closely as the royal blue tops both sides wore, fought point for point through most of two games before fourth-seeded St. Francis pulled out both, 25-21, 25-19.

"We stepped up and executed," said St. Francis coach Mike Lynch, who at 7 p.m. today vies for a regional crown against No. 5 seed Downers Grove South, a winner over Downers North 25-20, 25-22.

"We've won two regional championships in a row, we made the sectional championship against (Wheaton Warrenville) South the last two years, so just the experience of being in this (helped). We're very young, but at least the kids are part of the program even if they're watching it from the bleachers," Lynch said.

Those in the Spyglass Athletic Center saw what Wheaton North middle hitter Keegan Ovitt did: "We stayed pretty much within one or two points the whole match."

One was the greatest Game 1 margin until St. Francis (29-7) took a 21-19 edge on a kill by outside hitter Joe Mordell. Resilient Wheaton North (11-21) replied, 21-21, but rocket-armed Spartan Dan McGuire spiked to start the final 4-point run.

"We came out a little flat, but I think as the game went on we got a lot stronger," said St. Francis setter Mike Segneri, whose 21 assists set up Mordell for 8 kills, Dave Metzler for 5 and Steve Howe for 4. "Our defense picked it up and the intensity, as the game went on, got a lot better."

Wheaton North started slow in Game 2, trailing 7-2 when Falcons coach Ryan Baker took a timeout. His message lingered, because with Hunter Thorson serving 5 straight points Wheaton North took an 11-10 lead.

"When our passing is there then the offense comes together," said Falcons setter Matt Impola. "When we're on our toes and moving around then good things can happen."

The score seesawed until St. Francis capitalized on a Falcon communication breakdown for an opening at 21-19. Howe got a block down - 22-19 - then the Spartans benefitted from three straight errors to emerge slightly better on this night.

"We're kind of used to coming back in tight games," Lynch said. "Our kids didn't get fazed. Wheaton North is not a typical first-round game."

Impola had 19 assists for Wheaton North. Fellow seniors Ovitt and Luke Nelson slammed 7 and 8 kills, respectively.

"I think they really showed the younger guys on our team what it was like to go out with class and to go out with dignity," Baker said.