Boys Volleyball: Waubonsie Valley finishes off Metea Valley

Waubonsie Valley has made a habit this season of coming back from the brink of defeat. Things were no different on Tuesday as the Warriors fought off five game points in the second game of their 25-23, 28-26 Upstate Eight Valley victory over Metea Valley.

The No. 10 Warriors had previously come back in matches against Benet and Glenbard West.

“We know that when we get in that position, we can come back. It’s not a done deal,” Waubonsie Valley coach Al Lagger said. “We know that’s prime time for us, we can step it up and do what we need to do.”

Waubonsie Valley (23-5, 4-0) trailed 24-20 in the second game on Tuesday before going on a 5-0 run that featured a kill and block from outside hitter Mike Storm.

The Warriors then lost back-to-back points, and faced another Mustangs game point — their fifth — at 26-25.

Waubonsie came back to win three straight points, the last coming on an ace by middle Seth Salmon, to win the game and the match.

“We have a lot of fight. We’ll never quit on a game, we always know we can come back and win,” said outside hitter Mike Simmons, who led the Warriors with 16 kills.

Setter Luke Furman had 21 assists, two kills and two aces, Storm had eight kills and an ace and middle Tyler House had two kills and two blocks.

Simmons had eight kills in the Warriors’ 25-23 game one win. The sophomore’s perfectly-placed tap over two leaping Mustangs on game point gave the Warriors an early advantage.

Simmons’ strong play on Tuesday drew high praise from Lagger.

“He’s a consummate leader. He puts the ball in play when he has to, he swings hard when he has to,” Lagger said. “He’s a very intelligent player. If he sees a triple block, he’ll go up there and tip it in over the block.”

For Metea Valley (19-10, 2-4), coach John Aister is looking for someone to step up late in games.

“I’d say half our losses this season have been just like today,” said Aister. “We’ve been up in a match, we’ve had control of a game, and we just can’t finish. We just need that one person to close for us.”

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