Barrington wins Lake County Invitational
Taylor Ganzer has it made. The Barrington setter just has to make choices. Like which powerful hitter to feed.
His arsenal includes Tommy Leonard, Jeff Hochstein, Matt Logue and TJ Shanahan.
Ganzer admitted Saturday morning that his Broncos were not the favorite to win the Lake County Invitational. However, five straight victories told Lake County volleyball teams that Barrington is indeed a team to watch out for.
In a tough title match, Barrington (14-2) edged Highland Park 26-28, 25-20, 25-19 to claim the Lake County title held at Vernon Hills High School.
Ganzer registered 40 assists in the championship match feeding the likes of Logue (14 kills), Leonard (9 kills) and Shanahan (9 kills).
“Our middles are big,’’ Ganzer said. “I’ve been playing with Leonard since freshman year. He’s a heck of a player. Our outsides are all good so we have a good combination.”
After stopping Stevenson in three sets (19-25, 25-14, 26-24) in the morning, the Broncos met a Giants team that had some capable players well. Highland Park stopped Vernon Hills in semifinal action.
“Their setter (Adam Conen) was really tough,’’ Ganzer said. “And they had a good outside hitter (David Ofer).”
Set one was tight the whole way. On a block by Michael Eldridge, the Giants struck first.
“We changed our game plan after that,’’ said Barrington coach Rob Ridenour.
The Giants (10-4) still looked in charge until libero Austin Czarnecki went into serve with his team trailing 13-10. Czarnecki (23 digs) snapped off an ace. He also was helped along by a Hochstein kill. The Broncos did not relinquish the lead from there.
“This group has been working hard to get where they are,’’ Ridenour said. By this time, HP head coach Earl Alexander began to feel it slip away.
“We lost a little energy in that second match,’’ Alexander said. “We lost our focus.’’
Highland Park was still in this match as it led 14-11 in set three. But a pair of serving aces from Logue knotted this set at 17-17. When Leonard and Hochstein combined on one big block, it seemed clear that Barrington would prevail.
Stevenson came back from a first set whipping to edge Vernon Hills for third place. The Patriots beat the Cougars 13-25, 25-22, 26-24.
Warren also came from behind to topple Deerfield for fifth place. The Blue Devils prevailed 24-26, 25-14, 26-24.