Boys volleyball: New faces help Glenbard West top Neuqua Valley

Junior Johnny Winkler watched the Glenbard West boys volleyball team capture its first state championship in 2015 while sitting on the bench.

Junior Robbie Murphy was among the numerous screaming students in the stands after contributing as a postseason practice player from the sophomore team.

This year they're among several important contributors for the undefeated Hilltoppers, who swept Neuqua Valley 25-10, 25-19 in the Glenbard West sectional semifinals Friday in Glen Ellyn.

"I was in the gym (last year) helping out, and I saw what fun it was," Murphy said. "I was like, 'I want to have that fun next year,' and right now the ride's been awesome. So let's keep it going."

Top-seeded Glenbard West (38-0) seeks another sectional title and state quarterfinal berth at 6 p.m. Tuesday against No. 6 sectional seed Downers Grove South (26-12), which beat No. 10 Downers Grove North for the third time this season, 25-16, 25-21. The Hilltoppers beat the Mustangs 25-19, 25-20 May 5 in Glen Ellyn.

The Hilltoppers' three returning senior starters played throughout Friday's victory. Stanford-bound Paulie Bischoff had 20 assists, Loyola-bound Kyler Kotsakis had 4 kills and Will Church had 3 kills.

There also was Murphy with a team-best 7 kills, Winkler with 5 kills and 8 service points and junior libero Zac Norvid with 13 digs and 9 service points.

"The junior class has been just unbelievable," Glenbard West coach Christine Giunta-Mayer said. "We always have a conversation about (next season). What do you want? How do you see yourself contributing? It's just a really collective, good group of kids."

The Hilltoppers still have not lost a game this season. That includes two previous victories over No. 12 Neuqua in which they allowed no more than 17 points in a game.

The Wildcats took a 19-17 lead in Friday's second game, prompting a Giunta-Mayer timeout. The Hilltoppers returned with a sideout kill from Winkler, who then served seven consecutive points to secure the victory.

"I just said stop worrying about losing a set and start worrying about winning a game. And they listened," Giunta-Mayer said. "(Beating an opponent) three times is really, really hard. We said in the beginning of the season Neuqua was going to be one of the best teams we saw and they are."

Behind their all-senior starting lineup, the Wildcats won three-game regional matches over higher-seeded Benet and West Aurora behind strong first games. The Hilltoppers, however, dominated Friday's opener with 5-0, 15-4 and 21-7 leads.

Neuqua played even throughout most of the second game with 10 of their 14 kills, their one ace and better defense, contributing to six Glenbard West attack errors.

Aaron McKinley and Greg Hedrick each had 4 kills, Jack Dentzman 10 assists and Justin Martin 8 digs.

"We definitely got on a good run, got hot at the end. I'm proud of the way the guys played," Neuqua coach Erich Mendoza said. "There's a reason they're No. 1 in the state. We came out slowly the first game. We've played really good teams and played well. They're on a different level and they're so much quicker. And (it's) a hostile environment."

Can the Hilltoppers continue their high level of play? Can their fans surpass the size and enthusiasm of Friday?

"I've never played in front of a crowd this big before," Winkler said. "This might have topped (state) with the energy. It was pretty crazy."

"We used social media to get everybody out. I don't think there was a seat empty on the home side," Murphy said. "The community supported us, and we gave them a pretty good game. The team really dug deep those last few points to bring out the victory."

The Hilltoppers' game-ending run had 2 kills by Murphy, including match point, an ace by Winkler and their first two blocks after four in the first game.

Winkler couldn't remember having a longer serving streak this season.

"A lot of the seniors last year just really showed how to remain calm and collected in situations like when we were down 19-17," Winkler said. "(These seniors are) really just paving the way for us to finish this."