Boys volleyball: Grayslake North makes quick work of Grant

Sounds silly doesn't it? That is to call Teddy Gedville the world's tallest setter.

So let's ask his coach, Nikki Kirchway, the Grayslake North boys volleyball coach.

"When, I used to coach the girls team, I had a 6-foot-1 setter,'' Kirchway noted.

Gedville, a junior setter at Grayslake North, measures 6-foot-4.

"He set a perfect ball,'' said freshman outside hitter Nathan Atwell.

Grayslake North never trailed in the first set at Grant on Thursday night. The Bulldogs had a few leads in the second set but North prevailed 25-17, 25-14 in Northern Lake County Conference play.

"We really want to be a conference champion,'' Gedville said.

With Jarod Hesse at the serving line in the opening set, he used an ace as the Knights grabbed a 5-2 lead after Ein Atwater and Trey Yonts combined on a block kill.

"We really came out fired up,'' Atwell added. "We made a bunch of good plays."

On an Gedville kill, the North lead was 22-17 in set one. Another Gedville kill ended the first set.

"We really played well tonight,'' Kirchway said. "We did a great job executing our offense. We didn't give them many points."

An Atwell kill gave the Knights an early lead in set two. And how did this freshman find volleyball in the first place?

"I was playing basketball and the coaches suggested I try volleyball,'' Atwater said. "Right now, I need to work on my vertical."

Grant's last lead of the night came on a gorgeous block from Derek Kolb. It was 11-10 Bulldogs.

With Nicholas LeBaron serving for the Knights, he received help from an Evan Mittlstaedt block and kills from Hesse and Atwell. The North lead was now 21-13.

Kills from Atwater and Gedville closed out the match.

Atwell's 7 kills led the way for North (4-5, 1-2). Hesse had 5 kills and 9 digs. LeBaron had 3 kills and 2 blocks. Gedville had 20 assists and 3 kills.