Boys volleyball: Palatine downs Buffalo Grove
Palatine's Curtis McLennan made sure that his Pirates would have plenty of momentum heading into the state boys volleyball playoffs next week.
McLennan had 15 kills, including a dazzling 11 kills in the second game, as Palatine bounced Buffalo Grove 25-21, 25-22 in the Mid-Suburban League second-place crossover game at Buffalo Grove Tuesday night.
"He has been working his way back from a shoulder issue, " Palatine coach Pete Gavin said of McLennan. "Tonight was really the first time that I felt that he was really all the way back. He is a very, very special player and a humble kid, too."
McLennan was anything but humble at the net for Palatine (29-4). The senior, who was named Male Athlete of the Year at Palatine, took over for the Pirates in the second game.
With his team trailing 8-5 in the second game, McClennan had 4 kills to spark the Pirates to a 10-2 run to lead 15-10. Buffalo Grove closed to 15-14 and McLennan again was huge with a pair of kills to make it 17-14.
Buffalo Grove (17-16) rallied again to make it 20-19. Palatine was able to tack on the final 5 points, with McLellan punctuating the victory with a massive kill for the match point.
"It was a good match," said McLennan, who will attend Wheaton College next year and help start up a club volleyball team there.
"Ben (Rinella) did a great job of putting the ball where I was expecting it. That just gave me the opportunity to drop the ball where I wanted it."
Rinella did another great job of moving the ball for the Pirates. He had 26 assists, dishing not only to McLellan, but to Tim Matijevic (7 kills), Aaron Spaletto (3 kills) and Nate Jones (3 kills).
"You have to analyze the court," said Rinella, who had 5 kills of his own. "They are a pretty even team, so it was a little more difficult."
Matijevic helped make things easier for Palatine in the first game. The senior had 3 kills and 2 aces early in the match to help Palatine to the win.
"I just wanted to get the momentum on our side," Matijevic said. "We're going to get them lined up and stay positive for the state playoffs.
Palatine, which is the second-seed in the Fremd sectional, will play in the South Elgin regional next week. The Pirates will open action next Tuesday against the winner of South Elgin vs. Rolling Meadows.
Buffalo Grove coach Tim Kosiek was impressed with his team's play. The Bison, who were beaten soundly by Palatine earlier in the season, got strong play Tuesday from Ethan Soifer, who had 9 kills, along with Marty Gross (3 kills), Tommy Gross, Teddy Patlak and Kyle Orton.
"We played them earlier in the year and the score was pretty lopsided," Kosiek said. "To come out and be in the 20s and keep that competitive and that close. Our goal tonight was to prepare for regionals. The reality was that we needed to take shots that we don't normally take. And they did that."
Buffalo Grove is the 10th seed in the Glenbrook North sectional. The Bison will meet CICS/Northtown of the Chicago Public League Monday in the New Trier regional.