SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Boys Volleyball Sectionals: Marist tops Br. Rice, will face LW East in sectional finals

Spread the love

By Randy Whalen
Correspondent

Michael Bos had just put down what was probably the biggest block of his high school career.

It sent Brother Rice team into a frenzied celebration. The Crusaders hadn’t won the match, but they had moved to a third set against the top-ranked team in the state.

Rice eventually fell short, losing 25-19, 26-28, 25-22 to Marist, in the semifinals of the Sandburg Sectional on May 28.

The RedHawks, No. 1 according to Illinois Prep Volleyball, advanced to the sectional championship match against Lincoln-Way East on May 31. It will be a rematch of 2019 and 2021 sectional final matches — won by the eventual state champion RedHawks three years ago and the Griffins last season. There was no postseason tournament in 2020.

Lincoln-Way East was a 25-22, 25-19 winner over host Sandburg in the other semifinal.

Rice won its 16th regional championship since 2003 by rallying to defeat Chicago Christian 19-25, 25-21, 25-19, two days earlier to capture the title of their own regional.

At sectionals, the Crusaders (20-18) showed they belonged on the same court as one of the state’s elite teams, with only one starter graduating, appear to be in good shape to be a contender next season.

“It was crazy,” said Bos, a junior middle hitter, of his block. “I just wanted to give us a chance to win it. The outcome didn’t end up the way we wanted but we came to play.

“When we play together as a team, we showed our potential and the fact that we can compete with any team in the state.”

Bos had seven kills and three blocks and junior outside hitter Nathan Kramer creamed 15 kills. Senior right side hitter Tom Lamb lambasted seven kills, junior outside hitter Brendan McCarthy mashed seven kills and had two blocks, junior setter Luke Dwyer had 42 assists, and junior libero Kevin Lufrano added 15 digs.

Marist was paced by junior outside hitter Marty Canavan, who had a match-high 16 kills, including the match-winner. Kellen O’Keefe had 11 kills, and fellow senior outside hitter Andrew Kopinski had eight kills,

Junior middle blocker Alex Smith added five kills and three blocks, junior libero Brendan Schoeberl had 18 digs, and sophomore outside hitter Luke Brannigan added seven digs.

“That was one of our best matches and I’m incredibly proud of this team,” Brother Rich coach Dan Dwyer said. “For our guys to fight back and get that second set win was awesome. We are going to have everyone back except our right side (Tom Lamb). I’m going to miss all our seniors but we have a lot coming back.”

 

Third time no charm

The Eagles (20-18) lost for the third time in as many sectional semifinals to SouthWest Suburban Blue foe East. The impact of the season showed when senior outside hitter Brayden Rice came up to Sandburg coach David Vales afterward to thank him for coaching him.

“Our guys saw the bigger picture, had the love of the game and we got to see the improvement,” Vales said. “We worked on timing and commitment and had 15 different guys play this past week.”

That included the Eagles capturing a regional title for the 25th time since 1995 two days earlier with a 20-25, 25-15, 25-19 win over Lemont at the Brooks Regional.

Rice led Sandburg with six kills and a block. Senior right side hitter Brendan Hornik had five kills and an ace,  senior outside hitter Gavin Kissane contributed four kills, sophomore Zachary Supanich added three kills, while senior setter Drew Snaidauf dished out 12 assists, and sophomore setter Myles Aquino added eight assists for the Eagles.

Sandburg lost 10 seniors to graduation.

“Lincoln-Way East is not going to give it to you and did a nice job of putting the ball in play,” Vales said. “Still, after the first set, I thought the momentum could be equal. But then we made silly mistakes (five miss-hits, two service errors) in the second set and it bit us.”

 

De La Salle Sectional
Morton and St. Rita lost heartbreaking semifinal matches on May 28.

Morton battled top-seeded St. Ignatius down to the wire before falling 25-16, 16-25, 28-26. The Mustangs (22-11) finished with their most successful season since they advanced to the state quarterfinals in 2014, and it was quite a turnaround from last season’s shortened schedule when they went 4-10.

In the regional title match on May 26, they defeated Solorio, 25-18, 25-10.

St. Rita (27-11) fell short in its bid for a sectional championship for a fourth straight season and captured their sixth straight regional championship with a 25-8, 25-8 victory over Hancock on May 26.

Senior setter Danny Chambers had 26 assists, senior middle hitter Charlie Flynn smacked 10 kills, senior libero James Sanders had nine digs, senior outside hitter Ryne Jacobsen jolted eight kills, senior outside hitter Mark Erdmann put down six kills, and junior right side hitter Shauniel Nelson added five kills in the regional title match.

 

Hinsdale Central Sectional
Lyons fell just short against the host Red Devils in the Hinsdale Central Sectional, losing 23-25, 25-23, 25-22.

The Lions (25-13) won a regional championship for the third straight played season and the seventh time in the last eight years. They defeated Benet Academy 25-17, 21-25, 25-20 to win the Oswego East Regional.

Local News

Baseball in a mitt with a black bat low angle selective focus view on a baseball field

College Baseball | Saint Xavier upsets Eastern Illinois

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier baseball team picked up a win that its players are going to remember for a long time. The Cougars stunned Eastern Illinois, 4-2, on April 17 in Charleston. It was the Cougars’ first win over the Panthers, a Division I program, since 2005. Lyons grad Troy…

A lone white volleyball sitting on a wooden floor

Boys Volleyball | Glenbard West tops Marist to stay unbeaten

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Marist boys volleyball team, ranked fifth in the nation by USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches, lost to Glenbard West, 25-23, 25-21, in the championship match at the Brother Rice Smack Attack on April 20 in Chicago. Glenbard West (19-0) is the two-time defending state champion and is ranked third…

Alliyah Flores and her St. Laurence teammates earned academic honors by the IBCA. Photo by Jeff Vorva

St. Laurence hoops teams top honor roll

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Area basketball teams proved to be strong on the court and in the classroom this season, and St. Laurence was the leader of the pack. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association compiled a list of the top academic teams, and the area did well. In Division 3 girls, St. Laurence…

St. Rita's David Lyle won honors from the Chicago Bears. St. Rita photo

Chicago Bears recognize St. Rita senior with All-Star award

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Chances are good that few outside of St. Rita football circles know who David Lyle is. With good reason. Lyle missed his senior season for the Mustangs last fall after sustaining a serious knee injury. He even postponed having knee surgery so that he could take care of his…

RayHanania

‘Civil War’ is an anti-Trump fantasy

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Ray Hanania . We know that the mainstream news media (news and entertainment) harbors an unrelenting hatred of former President Donald Trump. They despise him.ccccc It isn’t surprising someone would produce a movie that taps into that hatred of Trump, even though the director denies it. I am an avid movie-goer.…

CRRNH_CosmoPhotoMDWArmory_032724

Pols want 63rd St. armory for new police HQ

Spread the love

Spread the love. Porfirio, Guerrero-Cuellar push plan in Springfield . By Tim Hadac Any plans the Chicago Department of Aviation may have had for the vacant Army National Guard Midway Armory, 5400 W. 63rd St., may be grounded, at least for now. Several elected officials are eyeing the parcel as the headquarters of a new…

Stacy Cygan. --Supplied photo

Her back against the wall, Stacy needs help

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Tim Hadac Editor Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound (708)-496-0265 . Clearing and Garfield Ridge have earned a reputation as a place where people look out for each other—and that sometimes means caring for each other in times of need. Today, I want to talk about one such person, who sure could use…

CRRNH_OLS3rdGradersWinPizzaParty_042424

It’s (pizza) party time at OLS

Spread the love

Spread the love. Third graders at Our Lady of the Snows School break into cheers as they learn they’ve won a pizza party for selling more raffle booklets than any other class. The recent Grand Raffle fundraiser brought in about $6,000. Parents looking for a grade school for their sons and daughters for 2024-25 are…

Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart

Dart wants free mental health care for first responders

Spread the love

Spread the love. From staff reports The Illinois Senate has passed legislation proposed by Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart that eliminates out-of-pocket expenses for first responders seeking mental health treatment. “We ask first responders to be constantly exposed to traumatic and dangerous situations to protect us,” Dart said. “This legislation is a solid step…

Members of the Green Team, Pat Stifter, Tara Rosenwinkeo, Gareth Blakesley, Lake Katherine's Director & Chief Naturalist; and Beth Enriquez welcome volunteers for Palos Heights' Clean Up Day on April 13. (Photos by Kelly White)

Volunteers give Palos Heights a spring cleaning

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Kelly White Palos Heights works hard to keep its city beautiful. Gathering residents together for a day of cleaning and fun was the Palos Heights Green Team with a Clean Up Day on April 13. “This event invited everyone in our community to do their part in combating pollution by having a…

Neighbors

Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?

Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?

by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again.  The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…

Bears pitch $3.2B stadium plan, but Pritzker still ‘skeptical’ despite team’s $2B pledge

Bears pitch $3.2B stadium plan, but Pritzker still ‘skeptical’ despite team’s $2B pledge

By DILPREET RAJU & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Chicago Bears laid out a $3.2 billion plan for a new domed stadium on Chicago’s lakefront on Wednesday afternoon, painting pictures of future Super Bowls and other major public events while pinning their hopes on yet-to-be-had conversations with the governor and lawmakers.  The Bears…

Regulators weigh future of gas industry in Illinois, while clamping down on Chicago utility

Regulators weigh future of gas industry in Illinois, while clamping down on Chicago utility

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Natural gas is fueling a fight between consumer advocates, a powerful utility company and the state. Amid competing advertising campaigns, accusations of mismanagement and state decarbonization efforts, the Illinois Commerce Commission is starting a process that will shape how the state regulates the increasingly controversial industry. …

Komatsu mining truck named 2024 ‘coolest thing made in Illinois’

Komatsu mining truck named 2024 ‘coolest thing made in Illinois’

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A mining truck manufactured by Komatsu was crowned the winner of the 2024 “Makers Madness” contest, earning the title of “the coolest thing made in Illinois” at the Governor’s Mansion Wednesday.  The truck was one of more than 200 entries in the 5th annual contest hosted…

Giannoulias calls for disclosure of lobbyist contracts

Giannoulias calls for disclosure of lobbyist contracts

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – For decades, lobbyists in the Illinois Statehouse have been required to report how much they spend wining, dining and entertaining lawmakers. Currently, though, there is no law requiring lobbyists to disclose how much they are paid by corporations, industry groups or other special interest organizations. That…

Illinois Senate advances changes to state’s biometric privacy law after business groups split

Illinois Senate advances changes to state’s biometric privacy law after business groups split

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – It’s been more than a year since the Illinois Supreme Court “respectfully suggest(ed)” state lawmakers clarify a law that’s led to several multi-million-dollar settlements with tech companies over the collection of Illinoisans’ biometric data. On Thursday, a bipartisan majority in the Illinois Senate did just that,…

Illinoisans can now get documents notarized online

Illinoisans can now get documents notarized online

By ALEX ABBEDUTO   Capitol News Illinois  abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com  Illinoisans who need a notary public can now access those services online through a new “E-Notary” portal launched by the secretary of state’s office. This process is one of the latest initiatives of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ ongoing effort to modernize the office and its services.  Notaries…

Prairie Band Potawatomi becomes 1st federally recognized tribe in Illinois

Prairie Band Potawatomi becomes 1st federally recognized tribe in Illinois

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Nearly 200 years after Native Americans were forced out of Illinois, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation has become the first federally recognized tribal nation in the state after a decision from the U.S. Department of the Interior last week. The move represents the first victory in the tribe’s…

Remembering Lee Milner

Remembering Lee Milner

NEWS TEAM Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com On Wednesday, April 17, the Springfield, Illinois Capitol and journalism communities lost a devoted friend and advocate when Lee Milner passed away. As Dean Olsen wrote in his piece in the Illinois Times earlier this month, “Readers of Illinois Times often have seen Milner’s work as a freelance photojournalist. But…

Capitol Briefs: Expansion of postpartum coverage, ban on kangaroos among hundreds of measures to pass House

Capitol Briefs: Expansion of postpartum coverage, ban on kangaroos among hundreds of measures to pass House

By ALEX ABBEDUTO & COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois kangaroo owners are one step closer to being forced to surrender their marsupials this week after the House passed a bill criminalizing their possession. That was one of more than 300 bills to pass the House ahead of a Friday procedural deadline.…