With more and more volleyball players specializing in the sport year-round, Eisenhower is somewhat of a throwback.
“We’ve got five players from the varsity basketball team playing volleyball,” middle hitter Robert McCoy said. “We’ve still got that chemistry coming off our season.”
The Cardinals aren’t the most polished team in the Southland, but they are chock-full of quality athletes, height and capable hitters. It doesn’t hurt that McCoy is one of five starters back and looks like a natural guarding the net.
Fresh off an all-tournament selection at the 24-team Marist Invitational, McCoy logged eight kills and three blocks as Eisenhower pounded De La Salle 25-14, 25-21 Thursday night in Blue Island.
Fellow middle hitter and basketball player Khalil Williams added five kills, Charles Carter distributed 20 assists and Matt McGrath had four aces for Eisenhower (6-2), which used its height to suffocate De La Salle’s attack.
“It’s nice having blockers reaching two feet above the net,” Eisenhower coach Stan Natonek said.
Carter is yet another blocking threat for Eisenhower at setter. The 6-2 junior owns a 35-inch vertical and is the fastest player on the team.
“He’s very athletic,” Natonek said. “It’s just a matter of him making the right decisions. He has to learn when to go up in the air and when to stay down with it.”
Rafal Szacilowski and Ben Colletti were bright spots for De La Salle (4-1). Szacilowski put away four kills and scored five straight service points in Game 2. Colletti dished eight assists and added two kills.
“Their blocks were open,” Szacilowski said. “We weren’t getting to the right spots we were supposed to be. It’s kind of devastating after a 4-0 start and then to pick up a loss like that. I have to give them credit. They’re the best team we faced so far.”
The Cardinals cruised to a Game 1 victory after Williams posted two big kills in a three-point span for a 22-12 advantage. McCoy and Lionel Webb teamed up for a block five points later to close out the set.
“We have lapses where we can be lackadaisical and moody,” Williams said. “So we’ve been working on our focus in practice.
“It’s pretty fun hitting middle because everyone is trying to block you. But if the blockers are paying more attention to us, then (Carter) can set it Vinny (Curta) or Lionel on the outside. It opens it up for us.”
Eisenhower looked ready to open the flood gates after taking a 6-0 lead in Game 2 on a kill from McCoy. However, De La Salle regrouped and took a 12-11 advantage on an ace from Szacilowski.
The Meteors led as late as 20-19, but a kill from Curta, a block from McCoy and a kill from Carter sealed the action over the final four points of the match.
When Szacilowski wasn’t serving for De La Salle, Eisenhower stayed in system and fed the 6-3 Williams and 6-7 McCoy in the middle.
“Other than (our serve-receive), everything is pretty solid,” McCoy said. “We’ve got to work on that and keep learning to play together.”
Tiger Classic: Eric Van Dyke had 15 kills and 17 digs as Lincoln-Way East (6-2) defeated Lake Park 25-17, 19-25, 25-16 and Cincinnati (Ohio) Roger Bacon 25-17, 25-11 in pool play at Wheaton Warrenville South. Aaron Kummer chalked up 54 assists and 17 digs to lead Marist (7-2), which lost to Barrington 25-23, 22-25, 25-22 and beat Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller 25-23, 25-23.
Baseball
Joliet Catholic 12, Lockport 3: Nick Dalesandro (4-for-5, 2 runs) provided four RBI and Mitch Boe (2-for-4, 2 RBI) scored four runs to guide host Joliet Catholic (4-0) in the WJOL Tournament.
Chicago Christian 7, Lisle 4: Dan Vos had two RBI to lead visiting Chicago Christian (11-0).
Brother Rice 11, Hinsdale Central 5: Max Hughes (2-for-2), Mike Schalasky (2-for-4) and Ryan Kutt (2-for-4) each contributed a solo homer and two RBI for visiting Brother Rice (7-1).
De La Salle 9, Tinley Park 2: Isidro DeSantiago and Josh Figueroa recorded two RBI apiece for visiting De La Salle (2-4).
St. Laurence 12, Brooks 1: Anthony Chimera (1-for-2) scored three runs and Frank Greco (2-for-2) added a pair of RBI to pace host St. Laurence (4-1).
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Bremen 13, Rich South 0: Mike Fuentes starred on the mound (1-hitter, 8 strikeouts) and at the plate (3-for-5, 2 RBI) for host Bremen (4-3-1).
Softball
Andrew 13, Manteno 0: Gianni Iannantone (3-for-4) supplied two runs and two RBI for Andrew (1-1) in the Providence Invitational.
Providence 12, De La Salle 2: Jessica Miklos went 3-for-3 with five RBI to spur Providence (1-2).
Lockport 18, Neuqua Valley 0: Bailee Moll (3-for-4, 2 runs) doubled twice, clubbed a three-run homer and totaled seven RBI to power Lockport (2-0) at Providence.
Oak Forest 3, Reavis 1: Caitlyn Aardema hurled a complete game and also went 3-for-3 with an RBI single for visiting Oak Forest (3-2, 3-0) in the South Suburban crossover.
Queen of Peace 6, St. Ignatius 5: Amber Anderson’s two-run homer propelled host Queen of Peace (1-3, 1-1) in the GCAC Red.
Eisenhower 3, Bremen 1: Rachel Martin hit an RBI double to lift visiting Eisenhower (2-3, 2-2) in the South Suburban crossover.
Girls Soccer
Lincoln-Way East 1, Joliet Central 1: Jillian Kilrea had the goal for host Lincoln-Way East (7-0-1).
Crete-Monee 7, Kankakee 0: Adrianna Vera’s five goals sparked host Crete-Monee (2-1, 2-0) in the Southland.
Lincoln-Way Central 3, Lockport 1: Goals by Alivia Crowhurst, Anita Fournier and Sarah Ortman boosted visiting Lincoln-Way Central (2-1).
Oak Forest 4, Argo 0: Sabrina Baxa (2 goals) and Rachel Valente (2 assists) were the standouts for host Oak Forest (3-2, 1-0) in the South Suburban crossover.
Stagg 4, Shepard 2: Anna Kois finished with a pair of goals for visiting Stagg (6-2).
Andrew 2, Lincoln-Way West 1: Alanna Lalich and Emma Przekwas put in goals for host Andrew (4-2).
Bloom 7, Rich South 0: Vanessa Lopez and Erika Garcia netted two goals apiece for host Bloom (2-3) in its Southland opener.
Boys Track & Field
Eric Nelson Classic: Joshua Thomas won the 100-meter dash (11.89 seconds), David Fry prevailed in the 400 (53.11) and Latrell Giles was tops in the long jump (19 feet, 4 inches) as Leo (167) tied for first place with Northside Prep at River Park.
Logan Malloy is a freelance writer. Freelance writer Josh Krockey contributed to this story.