Boys volleyball: Lake Zurich downs Mundelein

Next year will be no problem. But on this Lake Zurich volleyball squad, Evan Bajerski plays in the shadow of the Bears' hard-hitting outside hitter Bartosz Wielgos.

However, the junior Bajerski is quite the player in this sport.

"A lot of people tell me to play volleyball in college,'' Bajerski said. "But I would rather concentrate on my studies."

On Wednesday night, the home-standing Bears invited Mundelein in for a North Suburban Conference match. It was a preview of the Libertyville regional, where these same teams will meet later this month.

Lake Zurich (15-12) prepared for the regional by handling the Mustangs in the first set 25-13.

It wasn't so one-sided in the second set.

"They changed their lineup in the second set,'' said Lake Zurich coach, Lesly Ravenscraft. "They didn't let a ball drop. They got to everything."

Mundelein's last lead was 11-10. Lake Zurich prevailed 25-13, 25-20.

"Our setter played great tonight,'' Bajerski added. "He put the ball where I wanted it."

The Lake Zurich setter is junior Justin Stewart, who had 19 assists.

"These players are all good guys,'' Stewart said. "We also have a lot of good hitters. In that first set, we played great. I think we were too cocky in the second set."

Stewart's play at setter may be important come playoff time.

"He's getting more aggressive,'' Ravenscraft noted. "He's getting used to his role."

The Bears led start to finish in the first set. With Bajerski (5 kills, 5 blocks) serving 2 aces and a Logan Schaedel kill added in, Lake Zurich led 11-4.

"We came out a little flat,'' said Mundelein coach George Dressen. "Lake Zurich was very aggressive with their serve and their hitting."

Another serving run came from Kyle Lamb. He was aided by a Bajerski block and the lead was 19-7.

With Martin Carrillo serving for Mundelein in the second set, he got a kill from Andrew Gibbons and a block from Tyler Vander Ploeg and the Mustangs led 6-2 early on a kill from Andrei Varanic.

"We played with confidence,'' Dressen said. "Our tempo was better."

Wielgos, with his rocket serve, then went to line. He notched 2 aces and behind a Lukas Pytlak kill, the Bears were within a point at 10-9. Wielgos paced the Bears' offense with 9 kills.

Bajerski's last block gave the Bears some breathing room at 23-20. Schaedel had 3 kills. Marcel Wiechnik had a block and a kill for Lake Zurich.

Vander Ploeg and Gibbons paced the Mundelein offense with 3 kills. Marc Rey had 3 blocks and 2 kills,