Fremd regains its edge

The Fremd boys volleyball team, winners of 29 matches in 2007 and defending co-champs of the Mid-Suburban West, started this season with a loss to a tough Vernon Hills squad.

Then came spring break, and the Vikings took advantage of the time off to return with a renewed vigor.

Fremd evened its 2008 record at 1-1 with a hard-earned 25-14, 25-22 MSL crossover victory at Wheeling.

"We came back rededicated and played with more intensity," said Vikings senior outside hitter Daniel Brophy, 16-for-16 on attack with 10 kills, including several big ones down the stretch of the decisive game.

"We came out with a lot of energy," agreed Fremd coach Curt Pinley, "and that was a huge factor.

"Wheeling had played a couple more matches than we had, and they're a good team -- very scrappy."

The Wildcats didn't put up much resistance in Game 1. Fremd ran out to a 9-1 lead and when Brophy served an ace, the Vikings were up 19-8.

Wheeling middle Tom Devitt (10-of-10, 5 kills) had a late kill and senior Paul Desmond served up an ace but the Wildcats couldn't rally.

"I don't know what happened in the first game," said Wheeling (1-2) coach Ed Uhrik. "I told the kids (between games) that after they ran off those 9 points, we matched them point for point."

"We didn't have any intensity," added Devitt. "In the second game we had more of a sense of urgency."

Wheeling, which started the season with only six varsity players on its roster, rallied in Game 2 and grabbed a late lead after a tip kill by Devitt and ace from junior Dan Hehn.

Then Brophy, in his second varsity season after playing baseball his first two years in high school, hit 3 straight kills to put Fremd ahead 24-20.

But Wheeling wouldn't go quietly and the last in a series of superb digs by sophomore libero Rolando Torres almost brought the Wildcats all the way back.

"I just started clicking at the JV level," said Torres, who was surprised by his early promotion to varsity. "The coaches wanted to see how I would play at this level and I guess they liked what they saw.

"This year everyone's very supportive, and they're encouraging me to do better. It's a great bunch of guys."

Wheeling was down 24-22 when Torres dived out of bounds for a save, but Fremd scored the final point after a long rally.

Senior Daniel Teschner added 3 block kills for the Vikings while junior Cal Nolan was 16-for-19 passing.

"We had a team meeting last week before spring break," said Nolan, "and tonight we came out focused, and played well."