Addison Trail closes out St. Charles East
The 30-28 victory by the Addison Trail boys volleyball team in Game 2 on Thursday not only clinched a match win over visiting St. Charles East, but it was a prime example of why the Blazers are 16-3 this season.
Addison Trail had opened the competition by controlling the majority of Game 1, winning 25-16.
"If we played in a tight game last year, we would always lose," said junior Alex Dickmann, who led his team with 11 kills. "This year is different. We're more intense and we play as good as we can."
Addison Trail led early in Game 2. A Saints' net violation put the Blazers up 8-5. Then came an 8-2 run by the Saints (12-12), and when it was over St. Charles East was up 13-10. Later, a kill and an ace by Dickmann tied the game at 15. Then the contest went back-and-forth between a one-point advantage by a team and then a tie.
The Blazers' Jack Vrchota, who had 6 kills, put one of them past the Saints to tie the game at 25.
It was a big night for St. Charles East's Luke Spicer, who racked up a game-high 12 kills, as his blast put his team up 26-25.
"I think St. Charles East passed a little better in the second game and got a couple of more hitters going besides No. 9 (Spicer). He gave us fits all night," said Addison Trail assistant coach Chad Grant.
The Blazers took a 27-26 advantage on an Anthony Chiaramonte's kill and a block by Kannon Nelms. Chiaramonte also finished with 6 kills for the match.
A kill by Spicer tied the game at 27 before a hitting error by the Saints put the Blazers up 28-27. A hitting error by Addison Trail tied the game again at 28.
The Blazers got the ball back to serve on a kill by Dickmann that put them up 29-28, and then a St. Charles East hitting error gave the Blazers the game and the match.
"We didn't change a whole lot from the first to the second game," said Saints coach Kate McCullagh. "I think we were frustrated from the first game and that helped in the second."
Addison Trail led from the start in Game 1, leading by as much as 6 during several stages of the game.
An Addison Trail hitting error got the Saints to within 4 late in the game. Then with Jon Valintini serving, a block by Vrchota, kills by Chiaramonte and Dickmann and a hitting error by the Saints, put the finishing touches on the Blazers' victory in the opening game.
"We've been working hard the whole season at practice. Obviously, we have our ups and downs, but we finished both games strong tonight," Dickmann said.
Addison Trail now faces an unusual part of its schedule. Its next home match is not until May 20 against Hinsdale South. Between Thursday's match and that match, the Blazers will have trips to Leyden, Bartlett, the York Invitational, Willowbrook, Benet and then return to Villa Park for the Willowbrook Invitational.
"I think part of the reason (for Addison Trail's success) is that the whole team was younger last year and able to get its feet wet. We're able to win the close matches at the end now. Chalk that up to experience," Grant said.
Robert Yoder finished with 5 kills for the Saints, who play host to Geneva at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.