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Young Blazers falter against Oak Park

A young Addison Trail team with only four seniors on its roster ran into a veteran-laden Oak Park-River Forest squad in Monday’s season opener for both teams.

The Blazers struggled against a senior-led Huskies team that combined for 30 kills during a 25-15, 25-19 sweep of the hosts in a West Suburban Conference crossover.

“We showed our age tonight,” Addison Trail coach Tom Hubner said. “We just didn’t get into a rhythm from start to finish and (Oak Park-River Forest) dictated tempo. When you let that happen to you, you’re in trouble.”

In Game 1 the Huskies led from start to finish, jumping out to a 16-9 lead after an Addison Trail service error.

Oak Park-River Forest scored the next five points after that including a kill by Ryan Ebersol, followed by a pair of blocks and a kill by middle hitter Elliot Mertz. A service ace by libero John Callahan put the Huskies up 21-9 before a kill by Addison Trail’s Anthony Chiaramonte ended the visitors’ run.

Blazers setter Kevin Grygo registered a kill for his team’s last point of the first game, which ended on an Addison Trail service error.

“Oak Park came out and did what they wanted to do and that hurt us,” Hubner said. “We’ve got to work hard in practice, shore up some things and get us to where we should be. I think we have talent, but I don’t think it showed tonight.”

In Game 2 the Blazers hung with the visitors at the start, taking its first lead at 4-3 when the Huskies were called for four hits.

A kill by outside hitter Alex Dickmann, followed by another kill from Chiaramonte, put Addison Trail up 6-4.

A Matt Hernet kill gave the hosts its final lead of the game at 11-10, but Oak Park-River Forest registered five of the next 6 points, all on successful attack attempts.

John Martin and Sam Rolfes combined for 6 kills and 2 blocks down the stretch, helping secure the victory for the Huskies.

“We have five hitters who can hit on the court,” Oak Park-River Forest coach Don August said. “As long as we can control the ball, get it to our setter who can distribute it, we can pick and choose where we want to attack and that helps us out a lot.”

  Matt Hernet of Addison Trail returns a serve from Oak Park River Forest in boys volleyball action on Monday in Addison. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
  Frank Gonzalez of Addison Trail goes up to spike the ball in action against Oak Park River Forest during boys volleyball on Monday in Addison. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
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