Okello Hope, Tom Wesolowski help Young hold off Payton

When it comes to Public League volleyball, Payton and Young are usually the league’s top two teams. And if their match Wednesday afternoon is any measuring stick, it seems it’ll be the same way this year. Young defeated the host Grizzlies 21-25, 25-22, 26-24.

“These are the top two teams in the Public League,’’ Dolphins outside hitter Tom Wesolowski said. “We know each other from grammar schools, club, whatever, so whenever we play them we know it’ll be a good, tight match.’’

The Grizzlies jumped out to a 4-1 lead in Game 1 before Young (13-7, 6-1 Gold) roared back to take a 9-8 lead on a hitting error by Hans Friedl. The Dolphins expanded their lead before Payton tied the game at 14-14. From that point, neither team led by more than two until the Grizzlies (13-6, 7-1) took a 22-19 lead. The first set included eight ties and seven lead changes.

Game 2 got off to a rousing start as Young setter Jack Tracy knocked home an ace. But Payton tied the score on the next point which started a streak of 10 consecutive side-outs. Payton took an 8-6 lead after back-to-back aces by Myles Gearon and held the lead until Nate Brooks, a senior headed to the University of Chicago to play basketball, put a ball away to tie the score at 15-15. Ben Schwister’s kill broke the 21-all tie later in the set and gave the Dolphins a lead they would not relinquish.

Young rode its momentum in Game 2 to open a 15-11 lead in Game 3. After Okello Hope’s two kills gave the Dolphins a 23-21 lead, Payton tied the match at 24 before Wesolowski put down two kills to win the match.

“After yesterday (a loss to Lincoln Park), we knew we had to regroup,’’ said Wesolowski, who finished with nine kills.. “We can use this win to help us as we move on in the season, especially with the playoffs coming up.’’

Hope had a team-high 10 kills for Young, and Perry Howell had a match-high 12 kills for Payton.