Boys volleyball: Power-packed West Aurora sets sights high

There are plenty of things to do on a snowy and blustery April Saturday.

Not much outside though - unless you count staring at a portable toilet flipped on its side and resting in the middle of the street outside windblown West Aurora High School - and hoping nobody was still inside.

That was what I saw as I scurried from my parking place into the school's gymnasium Saturday afternoon.

Once inside, I was treated to several hours of high-quality boys volleyball - thanks in part to the host Blackhawks.

For the first time since 2012, West Aurora captured its own 12-team tournament title with a convincing 25-19, 25-19 triumph over defending tourney champion Joliet West.

"It is nice to win our tournament," said Blackhawks veteran coach Tolis Koskinaris. "We went back-to-back (titles) in 2011 and 2012 and we haven't won it since so that makes us feel pretty good.

"It was one of their (the players) season goals - to win the tournament."

Armed with a pair of prodigious outside hitters - 6-foot-6 senior Justin Reynolds and 6-8 junior Thomas Kovanic - the Blackhawks have several goals they would like to achieve by season's end.

You can throw Koskinaris into that group as well.

"We're trying to establish something that has really never been done here at West High," said Koskinaris, "and that is to take this program to a state-caliber level.

"We expect to compete for a regional championship and beyond."

In their second match of the season, the Blackhawks quickly found out where they stood when they hosted defending state champion Glenbard West.

Continuing with the weather theme, it served as a good "barometer match" for the Blackhawks.

Despite their 25-17, 25-23 setback, the Blackhawks learned plenty against the Hilltoppers.

"That was a match for the year," said Koskinaris. "We were up 22-20 on them (in the second set) and then we made some mistakes."

"That was a tough game but we're working to win every game we can out here," said Reynolds, a Grand Canyon University recruit who recorded a match-high 15 kills and 4 aces in the title match against Joliet West last weekend.

While Reynolds and Loyola-bound (in 2017) Kovanic are powerful forces on the court, the Blackhawks also possess a solid surrounding cast that includes 6-2 junior setter Tommy Garcia, 4-year varsity stalwarts Adam Fitzgerald and James Roggeman, 3-year varsity hitters Chase Kilmer and Erik Haverkate, and 6-3 junior middle hitter Emmanuel Chaidez.

Off to a fast start, West Aurora (5-1) has plenty of potential to match its high expectations.

"They're all putting a lot of pressure on themselves to do that," Koskinaris said of taking the program to the next level. "And there are expectations that come with it. When you see them play loose, you can see the really good points.

"We can hit the ball," added the coach. "Even our middles - when they get a hold of the ball, they can hit it."

Koskinaris admits that his team is one without much middle ground.

"We don't have that in-between speed on the pitch," said the coach. "We either throw all the way as hard as we can or use a tip. We just don't have that middle shot. But at the same time, in high school volleyball, you can win with a hard ball like that. You can win."

If effort counts for anything, the Blackhawks should expect a big improvement from last year's 18-17 overall finish and 4-3 record in their Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division debut.

"There are still some things we need to work on," said Koskinaris. "Service errors, concentration ... part of that comes from us trying to be too aggressive. Part of that comes from us trying too hard."

West Aurora will face another strong Glenbard team in defending UEC Valley champion Glenbard East on April 19 in Lombard.

The Blackhawks likely haven't seen the last of Glenbard West.

"We'll play them in a tournament (at Glenbard East this weekend) and hopefully we get to see them again at sectionals," said Reynolds.

Aiming for its first state quarterfinal appearance since 2005 when seniors Matt McKee, Bruce Gaddy and Dave Swigart powered the team to a 25-14 mark, West Aurora may get another crack at the Hilltoppers on their home court in late-May.

"These guys remember it very well," Koskinaris said of the early-season loss. "In this case, long memories might be a good thing."

Play ball: Opening Day isn't just for Major League Baseball teams.

Two of the good guys - Wes Benjamin and Zach Hirsch - begin their minor league seasons Thursday night.

Benjamin, 22, who starred at St. Charles East and the University of Kansas, is a member of the Hickory (N.C.) Crawdads of the South Atlantic League - a Class A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Hickory starts its 2016 season at Kannapolis.

Hirsch, 25, a former standout at St. Charles North and the University of Nebraska, is a member of the Brevard County Manatees of the Florida State League - a Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. Brevard County starts its season at Daytona.

Benjamin and Hirsch are both left-handed pitchers.

Have a great season, guys.

You can reach Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com