In a matchup of the Public League’s two premier programs, it would only be fitting for the city title match to go three sets, with the league’s best players facing off against each other for the crown. Continue reading
Games are supposed to be all about having fun.
But the goal is not to let having fun affect the way you play. Payton learned that Wednesday in the first game of its sweep of Lincoln Park. The Grizzlies recovered to defeat the Lions 25-16, 25-7 in the Public League semifinals at Northside Wednesday afternoon.
“Sometimes we have too much fun and we lose a little bit of concentration,’’ said Kheperah Ray. “But when we even the two out, you see how good we can be.’’
The dominance Payton can showcase was seen at the end of the first set and throughout the entire second. Payton (22-7) went on a 7-0 run to end the first set and started the second on an 8-1 spurt. The Grizzles included a 10-0 surge midway through the second set, extending their 14-5 lead to 24-5 and putting the match out of reach for Lincoln Park (10-14).
“We started to talk better in the second set,’’ said senior setter/outside hitter Alex Bresler. “We weren’t communicating that well, especially in the first portion of the first set. We changed it up though.’’
“When we talk, we’re a better team,’’ added Ray. “Volleyball is all about communication, knowing what’s going on. When we have it, we’re good.’’
Earl Schultz had nine kills for Payton, while Bresler added eight.
With the win, Payton advances to play Young in the city finals at UIC Friday at 5:30. The meeting is a rematch of last year’s title tilt, which was won by Young. Payton won the teams’ only match this season April 2 in three sets.
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Three weeks ago, without two starters, Young fell to Lane in the Northside tourney. Playing without two starters yet again, the Dolphins were looking to avenge that loss, but with a trip to the city finals on the line.
Young survived, defeating the Indians 25-20, 26-24 in a Public League semifinal Wednesday at Northside.
It wasn’t easy for the Dolphins. Lane led 15-11 halfway through the first set when something clicked for the Dolphins. They rattled off a 14-5 run to end the set, giving them the 25-20 win.
“Once we put a couple balls down, we became more confident,’’ said senior Tom Wesolowski, who had three kills of his game-high 16 kills in the closing run. “We just needed to refocus on what we had to do.’’
Much like the first set, the second started off as a back-and-forth affair. This time the roles were reversed, as Young built a four-point lead and had four match points.
Lane fended off all of the Dolphins’ match points, tying the score at 24-24 on an error by Wesolowski. The senior made up for it on the next two plays, as he put down a kill and served an ace for the win.
With the victory, Young (17-12) advances to play Payton in the city finals at UIC Friday at 5:30. It will be a rematch of last year’s title match, which was won by Young. Payton won the teams’ only match this season, April 2, in three sets.
“It’s a huge rivalry,’’ Wesolowski said. “It’s always Young and Payton, Young and Payton. We know their strengths are Earl [Schultz] and Alex [Bresler]. We can’t shut them down completely, because they’re going to score. But we will have to contain them.’’
Zakir Pasha had six kills for Lane.
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Young did not possess the intensity it needed in the first set of its showdown with rival St. Ignatius on Friday. The Dolphins, however, were able to rally behind Tom Wesolowski’s match-high 20 kills and earn a 17-25, 25-15, 25-16 victory over the visiting Wolfpack. Continue reading
In a matchup of the Public League’s top two teams, Payton showed that sometimes practice isn’t perfect. The Grizzlies, who have yet to have a full practice with all of their players present, defeated host Young 21-25, 25-20, 25-12 Tuesday afternoon in both teams’ conference opener. Continue reading
BY MICHAEL WOJTYCHIW November 2, 2012
RIVERSIDE — Coming into the 2012 postseason, Hinsdale South was looking to rekindle some of the magic that led it to the supersectionals in 2010, and forget about last year’s early exit in the regional final. Continue reading
BY Michael Wojtychiw October 25, 2012
Coming into the postseason, Hinsdale South was looking to forget about last season’s early exit in the regional final. The Hornets avoided the same result of last season with a late come-from-behind 25-27, 25-10, 25-23 victory in the Class 4A Argo Regional final.
With Hinsdale South leading 24-21 in Game 1, Riverside-Brookfield scored six of the next seven points to take the game 27-25. The Bulldogs forced Hinsdale South (30-7) into three errors in that final run before Emma Schander finished the set with a kill.
“We just need to put our head in the game,’’ Hinsdale South’s Colleen Lyons said. “We let that get away from us. We need to be better mentally.’’
The Hornets used a 14-2 run to break Game 2 wide open. Lyons had three kills in the run, while Rachel Kent, Jessica Brezwyn and Jackie Adelphia each had two.
Game 3 was a back-and-forth affair until two controversial calls gave the Hornets a six-point lead, but the Bulldogs came back from a 22-16 deficit to take a 23-22 lead. The Hornets regained their composure this time, however, by creating a Riverside-Brookfield error and then Adelphia putting away the game winner.
Brezwyn had a match-high 19 kills, while Lyons added 14. Allie Shumowsky had seven kills for the Bulldogs (25-12).
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BY MICHAEL WOJTYCHIW October 14, 2012
In its quest for a third consecutive Public League girls volleyball title, Young had to overcome some obstacles before it could bring home the trophy. Continue reading
By Michael Wojtychiw – Contributor September 20, 2012
FRANKLIN PARK — Knute Rockne once said, “A coach’s greatest asset is his sense of responsibility — the reliance placed on him by his players.” Continue reading
The Payton girls have won two sectionals.
Now the Payton boys can say they’ve won one as well, as they captured their first boys volleyball sectional title Tuesday afternoon, defeating St. Patrick 25-11, 25-21 to win the Young Sectional. Continue reading
