WHEATON -- Benet at St. Francis is a "big-time" rivalry in all sports, and the visiting Redwings volleyball team came out Wednesday with big-game aggressiveness and enthusiasm.
The Redwings led for most of Game 1 until the 15th point and then, as they did in pool play at the Springfest tournament at Glenbard East last Saturday, they lost their edge and the Spartans went on to grab the 25-22, 25-20 victory.
"We were very aggressive in the first game," said Benet coach Amy Van Eekeren. "We made too many errors, especially late in the game. Then in the second game, we came out slowly and quietly. We can't do that."
The Spartans (8-1) took the lead for good at 16-15 on a cross-court kill by Dave Metzler, who led St. Francis with eight kills.
St. Francis increased the lead to 19-15, but the Redwings (11-6) didn't go away.
"Benet was really scrappy defensively," St. Francis setter Mike Segneri said. "They were getting everything up in that first game."
An ace just inside the line served by Luke Ladowski brought Benet back to within a point, but a series of errors at the end of the game proved to be its undoing.
"This is the way we played last Saturday when we took the first game from Downers Grove South and then lost the next two," Van Eekeren said. "It could still be the team's lack of experience, but I don't know how much longer we can say that."
The Spartans never trailed in Game 2 and built a 20-12 lead that put the match out of reach.
Kevin Massura led the Redwings with eight kills and came up with six digs on the same court he suffered a season-ending knee injury exactly two years ago.
"Massura played really well," Van Eekeren said. "He played aggressively and he really wanted the win. But, we weren't totally playing as a team. A lot of the times our block just wasn't there."
Another member of the Redwings who had a strong game was libero Billy Aukstik, who led the team with 14 digs.
"Billy is phenomenal," St. Francis coach Mike Lynch said. "He's a great passer and he reads the hitters. He anticipates rather than reacts. Our younger hitters have to be smarter when they come up against a libero like that. We were trying to hit away from Aukstik all night."
St. Francis was bolstered by the return to action of senior setter Segneri, who sprained his ankle in the first match at Springfest and had to sit out the rest of the tournament.
He wasn't supposed to play but gave it a try after wrapping the ankle and putting on a brace.
"It hurts, but I'm not thinking of it when I'm out there," Segneri said. "When I'm running an offense, I'm not focused on the pain."
He was delivering perfect sets to a variety of hitters throughout the match.
"When Mike is in the game, it picks up your confidence as a hitter," Metzler said.
Close
Community Login
You've successfully logged in to the Sun-Times Media Community, click the close button to return to browsing.
Facebook App
Font Size
Email
Bookmark
Black Text
Cell Phone Alerts