Boys volleyball: Glenbard West sophs do their part vs. Naperville Central
For Glenbard West sophomores Nicco Cavalcante and Ben Harrington, this boys volleyball season has been quite a transition.
They've gone from playing on the lower levels to the starting varsity rotation of the three-time defending state champion.
"We were watching (2017 state) and I was envisioning myself playing in a future state game," Cavalcante said. "I was really excited to be on varsity. There's a bunch of juniors and seniors and the speed has been faster and faster and I just keep getting better (adjusted)."
On Thursday they were among a consistent, balanced attack that lifted the Hilltoppers past Naperville Central 25-19, 25-21 in Glen Ellyn.
Cavalcante served for 14 points and 4 aces for the Hilltoppers (3-1). Harrington had 4 kills and his one solo block and 3 block assists led 7 team blocks for points.
"(Varsity is) a lot of fun because I get to be with the older guys and they're a lot of fun to be around," Harrington said. "It's super cool because I remember when I was in eighth grade and even last year, coming to watch the varsity (play at home), I was like, 'I can't wait to get out there and play with them.' "
After a back-and-forth match with the Redhawks (10-3), Cavalcante delivered a 5-point serving streak to open a 20-15 lead in the first set. His streaks of 3 and 4 points in the second set created 11-8 and 23-18 cushions.
Senior Stone Metz delivered 9 kills in 18 attacks. Junior Henry Curtis added 25 assists and junior Zack Morris 12 digs.
"I'm just really proud of their progress. This is only our fourth game and that is a top team. We love playing Naperville Central. They always give us everything and more," Glenbard West coach Christine Giunta-Mayer said.
"We were playing point for point. All we had to do was clean it up a little bit. In game 1 we had too many service errors (6). In Game 2 we didn't have any and that's the game. You've really got to put the ball in the court."
Naperville Central captured the Marist Tournament on March 24 and Bronze Division title at Wheaton Warrenville South's Tiger Classic Saturday after losing two three-set pool matches to Benet and Buffalo Grove.
On Thursday the Redhawks received 6 kills apiece from seniors John Davis and Felix Egharevba with senior Tim Folliard collecting 18 assists, but they also committed 22 unforced errors. They led for the last time at 8-7 in the second, never again getting closer than two points.
"We're getting there. We've just got to start limiting our unforced errors," Naperville Central coach Roger Strausberger said. "Our ball control breaks down quickly. We were right there first set, leading, We give up a 6-point run. We can't do that against good teams. The same thing second set."
Last season Harrington played full rotation for the junior varsity, and Cavalcante was on the freshman team. The only other players in Giunta-Mayer's tenure to go from freshman team to varsity as sophomores are Jackson Nagle and Parker Swartz from the 2015 state champions.
"Nicco has taken a double jump and that's hard. He's a control player and we're looking for control on this team," Giunta-Mayer said. "It's a testament to who he is. He knew what I was looking for coming into the season and he did everything he could to get that."
Cavalcante, who replaces junior Ryan Swartz in the back row, had three aces during his second-game streak for the 11-8 lead. Consecutive kills by junior Connor Williams, Harrington and Metz started Cavalcante's later run.
"It was exhilarating," Cavalcante said. "My front line, we've got Ben, (6-8 senior J.T. Ardell), Stone and Henry with the big blocks, and they just kept getting points."
Metz had 6 kills in the second set, two off serve-receive errors, after sparking the Hilltoppers defensively in the first game. Fallen on the ground to the side of the net, the 6-6 Metz made a perfect set to keep the ball alive.
The Hilltoppers won the point to lead 20-15.
"That (save) was unbelievable. Stone played phenomenal today," Giunta-Mayer said.
Next for the Hilltoppers is Springfest at Glenbard East on Saturday and a possible matchup with Tiger Classic champion Neuqua Valley (8-0).
"I'm excited to go home and digest this game a little bit - and see what I can fix in the little time I have (before Saturday)," Giunta-Mayer said.