Boys volleyball: Glenbard East wins possible state playoff preview vs. Glenbard North

The Glenbard East and Glenbard North boys volleyball teams might want to get used to seeing each other.

They faced off in a nonconference tilt Thursday on Glenbard North's Senior Night, a match the Rams won 25-15, 25-19.

But the IHSA playoffs start Monday. If Glenbard North, the 13th seed, defeats 20th-seed Streamwood, take a guess who the Panthers will face in a regional semifinal Tuesday at Lake Park.

Yep. Fourth-seeded Glenbard East.

If there is to be a Part 2, Part 1 was an interesting clash. In the first set, things were basically even until Glenbard East senior Nick O'Brien took to the serving line with a slim 10-6 lead. A few minutes later, thanks to four unforced errors by the Panthers and a big kill by senior outside hitter Carson Brandt, the Rams had a 16-8 advantage and never looked back.

In the second set Glenbard East raced out to leads of 9-5 and 17-11 before the Panthers scratched and clawed their way to 24-19. But another Brandt kill ended it.

Brandt ended up with 5 kills, 2 blocks and an ace, while junior middle hitter Jack Wozniak led the Rams with 8 kills.

"Both teams were going back and forth, we had a lot of rallies, but I think we put everything together," Wozniak said. "We're full strength now so we can hit the ground running in the playoffs."

Added Brandt: "We carried the energy from our West Aurora game, and we're just trying to carry it through to our next game. If it's against them, we'll hopefully do exactly what we did tonight."

Also figuring into the win were 12 digs from senior libero Jacob Bojan and another 7 from O'Brien. Junior setter Patrick Campuzano had 13 assists and an ace, while senior setter Brenden Cardott added 10.

"I like that we kept energy up the entire time," Glenbard East coach Marci Maier said. "(Glenbard North) went on a run at one point by about 3 or 4, I think, and we kept our composure and we played right through it. so I like that we didn't let any energy dissipate through that run."

Glenbard North was led by junior outside hitter Alex Fiduccia with 6 kills, while senior middle hitter Ian Krohn had 5 kills and 3 solo blocks.

Krohn and senior right side John Martinez are looking forward to a potential rematch against Glenbard East. But they realize there is work to do over the next few days to prepare first for Streamwood first.

"We've got to want it for all 50 points," Krohn said. "We kind of dropped off at the end of the first set. We had a chance to get some momentum at the end of that set and get the second set rolling, but instead we kind of let off a little bit."

Martinez said the Panthers play best when they have momentum, which will be important to build early next week.

"I felt a little flat today as a team," he said. "I know we can definitely beat them."