Thorp lifts L-Way Central

FRANKFORT -- When Brian Thorp wasn't setting the ball, he was putting it away.

Thorp led the Lincoln-Way Central High School boys volleyball team to a third-place finish in the Gold Division of Lincoln-Way East Tournament on Saturday.

He racked up 18 assists and 12 kills while earning all-tournament honors. He also helped the Knights (24-8) win 2-of-3 matches, including one in pool play.

Central beat Bolingbrook (25-10, 25-15), then lost to Lyons Township (25-21, 25-18) before rebounding to beat Naperville North (25-16, 25-17.

Andy Wingate had 11 blocks and 10 kills for the Knights. Corey Bingham had 11 kills. Dan Tanjic had 12 blocks and 7 kills. Ryan Warning chipped in 9 kills and 9 blocks.

Lincoln-Way East went 1-2 and placed second in the Silver Division. The Griffins (16-15) lost to Maine East (25-23, 25-23) and then beat Brother Rice (25-17, 25-19) and lost to Naperville Central (25-23, 25-22).

Dan Hunt had 81 assists and 18 service points to pace East. Mike McKenzie added 31 kills and 29 digs. Joe Wilhelmsen had 14 kills and 7 blocks. Mike Bolhuis had 40 digs, 26 kills and 20 service points. George Langheld had 18 kills and 7 solo blocks. Nick Janky had 23 digs and 18 kills. Ryan Walenga added 45 digs.

McKenzie was named to the all-tournament team.

Joliet Township dropped two three-game matches and was ousted from the Bronze Division. The Steelmen (14-11) fell 25-21, 17-25, 15-13 to Oak Lawn and 26-24, 20-25, 25-12 to Maine East.

Bolingbrook's Kenneth Boatright was the only other area player named to the all-tournament team. The Raiders were ousted from the Cooper Division by Illiana Christian (25-18, 19-25, 25-16).

Bartlett Tournament -- Plainfield South dropped two games on Saturday and finished 2-2 in the tournament. The Cougars fell 5-0 to Bartlett and 2-1 to West Chicago. The two losses dropped South's record to 5-10. Breanda Nava scored the Cougars' only goal. Sarah Johnson and Riley Osborn combined to make 9 saves vs. West Chicago.

Lincoln-Way East goes 0-2-1 -- At Lemont, Brittany Palmateer scored in East's 1-1 tie vs. Hinsdale South on Friday night. The Griffins then dropped a 3-2 decision to York and a 5-0 decision to Lemont. Taylor Jazo and Brittany Purtell scored goals vs. York. Palmateer contributed an assist.

Lockport Invitational -- Oswego beat Lockport 4-1 in the third-place match. The Porters picked up their only win from the No. 3 doubles team of Auishkar Shaima and Matt Bannon. The two defeated Oswego's Sean Tait and Alex Lopez 6-1, 6-3.

Downers Grove North beat St. Ignatius 4-1 in the championship match.

Lisle Invitational -- Minooka's James Hoffman placed sixth in the 300 hurdles (42.99). He also ran the second leg on the Indians' fifth-place finishing 4x400 relay team. Nate Ponton, Chris Devier and Matt Powers teamed with Hoffman for a time of 3:42. Heritage Bluffs Open -- At Channahon, two players broke 80 in blustery conditions during the first round of the 19th annual tournament.

Champaign's David Deschler shot 78 for a 1-stroke lead over Chicago's Jim Alvarez. Channahon's Jon Zolecki stands alone in third after a first-round 81.

In the A Flight, Oak Forest's Tony Holguin Jr. shot 83 and leads by a shot over Lockport's Aaron Horn. Three players are tied for third, 5 shots off the pace.

Chuck Justis of Plainfield leads the B Flight after opening with 88.