Boys volleyball: St. Charles East rallies to down St. Charles North

There was a definite suddenness to St. Charles East's boys volleyball comeback Tuesday night.

After struggling mightily in a 25-16 first-set loss, the Saints (6-2, 2-0) fell behind crosstown rival St. Charles North (5-4, 0-1) 20-13 in the second set and still trailed 24-20 on the cusp of defeat.

Then the light switch turned on.

One by one, the Saints began their rally.

Kills from Zach Kennedy and Dom Sciortino made it 24-22 before a pair of North hitting errors enabled the Saints to tie it at 24-24. Moments later, Sciortino (match-high 16 kills) delivered back-to-back kills as the Saints took the second set, 27-25.

That momentum carried into the decisive third set as St. Charles East completed its improbable rally, beating the North Stars 25-16.

"It feels great - it was spectacular," the 6-foot-6 Sciortino said of the Saints' victory over their longtime nemesis. "I think the season could be something special."

There was nothing special about the Saints' play in the opening set.

Four hitting errors, three service errors and numerous passing errors left the Saints in catch-up mode.

"We knew what we wanted to do in the first set," said Sciortino. "We tried to execute it but we kind of fell asleep. This was the biggest crowd we've ever had so maybe that attributed to a little nervousness in the beginning."

The North Stars, led by Brendan Dal Degan's 4 kills and service aces from Kyle Donlevy (9 kills, 2 aces), Danny Throop (20 assists, 3 kills), David Beach (4 kills) and Zach Yakes, dominated the first set.

"I thought we were in control of that first set," said North Stars coach Todd Weimer. "We took them out of their system and they didn't back down.

"East stepped up to the challenge and pushed us real hard in the second set. We just got tired and we weren't being smart. Our blocking was exposed."

The Saints received an emotional lift from juniors Drew Olsen (7 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks), Lucas Coker (22 assists), Kennedy (6 kills, ace), sophomore outside hitter Mik Brunovskis (4 kills, 5 blocks), and senior defensive specialist Chris Foerstel (19 digs).

"I'm over the moon with how they were able to rally," said Saints coach Kate McCullagh. "I think they really showed their character.

"We talked about momentum. We tried to play in small increments and it ended up working for us."

St. Charles North eliminated the Saints in regional play the past two seasons and earned a 25-23, 25-23 regular-season victory over St. Charles East last year.

"I think I'm now 4-10 against them so it feels good and I know the boys feel great, too," said McCullagh.

It was a tough finish for the North Stars on the heels of their solid third-place showing at the West Aurora Blackhawk Invite last Saturday.

"We gave them (the Saints) a small window - an inch - and they took a couple miles," said Weimer. "You can't give an inch to a rival school in any sport. You have to keep your foot on the throttle. It's on us."