A banner night for Glenbard North

After seeing their school redesign the athletic banners hanging from the gym ceiling earlier this year, the Glenbard North Panthers vowed to become the first team in school history to be commemorated for boys volleyball.

Thanks to this year's team, students returning to the Carol Stream campus next fall can look proudly at a boys volleyball banner that will read "2009 Sectional Champions."

With its 25-21, 25-18 win over Lake Park on Tuesday night at Elgin, the Panthers continued their remarkable season, which included the school's first regional title as well.

"We have banners in our school, and boys volleyball didn't have anything on it," Glenbard North coach Dedra DeBenedetti said. "The guys were like, 'One of our goals is we're getting something on that stinking banner.' "

Time will tell just what accolades the new banner will display, but for now, the Panthers are thinking big.

"I'm honored to be on this team," Glenbard North setter Raemon Bisharat said. "I could really see us becoming state champs at this momentum."

For the most part momentum sided with the Panthers all match. Glenbard North (23-8) promptly jumped out to a 9-3 lead to begin the first game and closed out the Lancers with a 7-0 run in Game 2 after a Dan Grose kill tied the game at 18-18.

Glenbard North outside hitter Chris Kosirog credited the game's final stretch to "a will to win. We wanted it more than them."

Bisharat twice set up 6-foot-4 middle hitter Kyle Schwetz during the decisive 7-0 run. His assist to senior Tyler Gustafson sealed the Lancers' fate.

"We were just connecting and clicking every time," Bisharat, who earned a match-high 24 assists, said. "Every time, we were just focusing on our game and doing what we do best."

DeBenedetti claimed her experience coaching several key members made this season's dramatic improvement on the court possible.

"I have two guys who have played with me for four years - Kyle Schwetz and Tyler Gustafson - and then Rae, our setter, has been with me for three years," DeBenedetti said. "They've got some fire this year."

Lake Park (29-9) suffered more than anything from an off day at a bad time.

"It just was a combination of things," Lancers coach Brad Baker said. "When we would pass, it seemed like our hitters weren't connecting. When we didn't pass, they were doing a good job when we were out of system.

"(Glenbard North) played great, and they deserved to win. There's no doubt."