Boys Volleyball: WW South too tough for Glenbard East

Updated: May 15, 2012 9:12PM

Nobody has taken as much as a game off Wheaton Warrenville South since March 24. Nobody came as close as Glenbrook North did in a 28-26 Game 1 loss on March 31.

Nobody until Tuesday, that is.

Mike Heim’s ace had Glenbard East within 22-21 Tuesday in Wheaton in Game 1 of the teams’ fourth meeting of the season. But a kill and a block by WW South’s Thomas Jaeschke and an error by the Rams sealed Game 1, and the hosts went on to win for the 34th time without a loss, 25-21, 25-17.

It was a far cry from the teams’ previous two meetings, both won handily by the Tigers, something not lost on either side.

“What was this? Our fourth time?” Glenbard East coach Marci Maier said. “But who’s counting?”

“I thought we played well tonight,” she said. “I’m happy with the way we played. They (WW South) played well. It was their Senior Night and it was high energy. Every time we play them they’re going to bring their ‘A’ game, and we hope to, too.

“I felt we let our frustration get to us when we played them at the Downers Grove South tournament,” Maier added. “We talked then that it wasn’t anything on the volleyball court that needed an adjustment. We came in here today determined to play good volleyball.”

Behind the serving of Mike Heim, Glenbard East (28-6, 10-3 DuPage Valley Conference) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in Game 1. WW South wiped out the deficit with a 9-3 run, but never could distance itself from the visitors.

“We played well,” Maier said. “I liked our demeanor out on the floor. We were not flustered. Our emotional side of the game is much stronger now, and we can come off the floor ready to go for the next game.”

Consecutive kills by Glenbard East’s 6-foot-5 junior Joey Farrell (eight kills) had the visitors within 17-14 in Game 2, but Jaeschke exploded for six kills during the next 11 points. The 6-7 Loyola-bound senior led all attackers with 14 kills and five blocks.

“You could blame our slow start on the long delay and senior night stuff, but you still have to come ready to play,” Jaeschke said. “That’s not going to happen again. It was a lack of concentration and focus and taking things for granted, which we can’t afford to do.

“They came out fired up and it was a great match,” he added. “But it shows a lot about our team that we can get pushed like that and instead of everybody walking to their spots after a point, we can still come together.

“That’s what so special about this team,” Jaeschke said. “We come together so much better than any other team I’ve been on.”

Matt Callaway added six kills, Tim Zyburt and Nick Smith each had four kills and Kit Bruzek added 23 assists for No. 1 WW South (34-0, 13-0). Tim Shenkin had 13 assists, three kills and block and Matt Ploke added five kills for Glenbard East.

“This is a great practice for the state tournament,” Maier said. “We can’t get this level of intensity in practice. We’re hoping that we play well enough in the regional that we get to play here (at WW South) in the sectional. That’s our goal. Everything is practice until we get to the postseason.”

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