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.

The crowd at UIC got that Friday evening as Payton came back from a one-game deficit to defeat rival Young 23-25, 25-22, 25-22 for the Public League championship.

It was the first time the Grizzlies have defeated the Dolphins in the city title game. Young had beaten Payton (23-7) last year and in 2010 for the crown.

“It’s always a huge rivalry, so it’s always good to beat them in big games,” said Payton’s Earl Schultz, who finished with 15 kills. “We’re the two best teams in the city and it shows when we play like this. It’s a lot of fun.”

Building off of its set one win, Young (17-13) looked to have all the momentum, as it got off to a quick 7-2 start in the second set before Payton mounted a comeback to tie at 11. It would be a relatively even set two until the Dolphins built a three-point lead, 22-19.

With his team three points from dropping its second straight city title match, Payton coach Casey Feeney called a timeout to rally his team.

“Coach just told us we have played too well all year and come too far to just let it all slip away like this,” said Schultz.

Feeney’s words worked, as the Grizzles went on a 6-0 run to win the second set 25-22. Senior Alex Bresler was at the service line for five of the six points in the run.

Bresler, who had been sharing setting duties as part of a 6-2 offense, was put back as the primary setter in a 5-1 offense in the second set, a move Feeney said was to shake the offense up.

“Alex is one of the most unreadable setters and can win a lot of points for us because of that,” said Feeney.

The third and deciding set was much like the first two, both teams going point for point until Kheperah Ray put down a kill at gave the Grizzles a 13-12 lead that they would not relinquish. The Dolphins would rally to get within one six times, but Schultz scored three of Payton’s last four points, including a match-winning kill. The junior, who was named Most Outstanding Player in the city, had six kills in the deciding set.

Payton’s Ray had six kills. Young senior Tom Wesolowski finished with 14 kills.

Link to story: http://bit.ly/10jrj6q