Boys Volleyball: Balanced Reavis overwhelms Oak Forest

Updated: March 22, 2012 8:07PM

Shooting itself in the foot with almost 30 unforced errors, Reavis dropped its season opener on Tuesday against Oak Lawn.

Visiting two-time defending conference champ Oak Forest Thursday, it was a whole different Rams team taking the court. Dominating at the net, an energized Reavis squad won 25-20, 25-22 in a South Suburban crossover.

“Everybody was nervous against Oak Lawn and a little shaky,” Reavis’ Will Ruiz said. “We talked it out, had a long practice last night, and we came out with confidence tonight.”

Ruiz (eight kills), Jose Vazquez (15 assists) and Nick Bal (nine assists) contributed for Reavis (1-1, 1-1). The story of the match was the play at the net. The Rams received dominating efforts from Kamil Borowski (11 blocks), Vazquez and Robert Maziarz (nine each).

“We still had too many service errors,” Reavis coach Bob Wielgos said. “But Oak Forest is still the conference champs, and this is their gym. The conference is up for grabs so we need to win as many games as we can early.”

Regrouping from an early deficit, Reavis took the lead for good in the opener with a 4-0 run to go up 16-14. Junior hitter Mohammad Abousalem, just 5-9, came through with three late kills with Vazquez ending the game with a service ace.

The Rams had an answer for every Oak Forest point in the second, never leading by more than four points. Ruiz closed the match with his softest hit of the night, a little floater over the net for the winner.

“We had to do what we had to do,” Ruiz said. “You’ve got to finish the game and can’t let it get close.”

Oak Forest (2-1, 1-1) was led by Danny Lyons (six kills, four blocks), Kyle Hullinger (eight kills) and Mike Ward (10 assists).

“Our setters are young, and we’re going through some growing pains,” Oak Forest coach Amanda Brown said. “We’ve got the pieces, and we’re working at just putting them together.”

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