Sandburg and Joliet Catholic are gaining steam, and the upcoming Lincoln-Way East Invitational looks all the better.
The Eagles landed one of the biggest wins of the season Saturday at the Brother Rice Smack Attack to emerge as a legitimate state title contender. Led by tournament MVP Paul Chmura, Sandburg (16-4) downed previously unbeaten Glenbard West to win the championship of the 24-team event.
Chmura wasn’t the only player picking up recognition. Junior setter Grant Burden and 6-9 outside hitter Jake Hanes earned Smack Attack all-tournament nods. Hanes’ jump serve was among the most lethal weapons in the field.
“That’s the best we’ve seen (Hanes) play,” Sandburg coach Sean Airola said. “He was terrific. He basically single-handedly won us the first game against Glenbard West.”
The Eagles also beat the fourth-, fifth- and ninth-place teams en route to the finals.
Meanwhile, Joliet Catholic (19-1) went on a title run of its own at the Palatine Invite. The Hilltoppers were led by another big-time performance from outside hitter Blake Reardon, who continues to rack up kills as one of the state’s best junior attackers.
Yet as hot as they are, Sandburg and Joliet Catholic received the third and fourth seed, respectively, at East’s tournament. The top seeds went to New Trier and unbeaten Lincoln-Way West, which goes to show there’s no easy path to the title.
Defending champ Lincoln-Way East, Naperville North, Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way North also headline their respective pools. The championship match is slated for 3 p.m. Saturday at East.
All-tournament
Six other Southland players joined Sandburg’s trio in earning all-tournament selections at the Smack Attack: Lincoln-Way Central’s Connor Hipelius, Lincoln-Way North’s Ethan Klosak, Brother Rice’s Jimmy Baker, Marist’s Patrick Bradford, Eisenhower’s Vinny Curta and St. Rita’s Jack Danaher.
Lovely Rita
Danaher led St. Rita to a pair of come-from-behind victories and ninth-place showing at the Smack Attack. The Mustangs, seeded No. 18, went 4-1 with their lone loss coming to Sandburg in pool play.
“We’re excited,” first-year coach Brian Hagen said. “We’re showing growth and trying to grow up as fast as possible.”
St. Rita topped Marist 23-25, 26-24, 25-23 for the silver flight championship after surviving three match points against Eisenhower in a silver quarterfinal.
Hagen considered the Smack Attack a turning point for the Mustangs (11-16), who began the year 5-15. He praised the play of Danaher, an opposite-turned-outside hitter.
“He’s got a calming factor when he’s on the court,” Hagen said. “You don’t see a lefty outside very often, so he can be a tough guy to block. He can hit from anywhere.”
Liam Kelly and Marty Goldrick (six kills and six blocks against Marist) also turned in strong performances.
Nose goes
Outside hitter Kyle Nilsen looked sharp at the Smack Attack. He also earned bonus points for toughness among Lincoln-Way Central’s coaching staff.
Nilsen smashed his nose in a collision with libero Scott Mueller during a win over Indiana’s defending state champion, Chesterton, in the first of three matches Saturday.
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“We asked him if he wanted to come out,” Knights coach Neil Lucchetti said. “He didn’t.”
Nilsen helped Central claim a fourth-place finish. The Knights added a big victory Tuesday over Lockport (23-3), snapping the Porters’ 17-match win streak.
Player of the Week
Blake Reardon, of Joliet Catholic, is the Daily Southtown’s Player of the Week. The junior outside hitter posted 79 kills to lead the Hilltoppers to the Palate Invitational title. Reardon added 22 kills in a three-game win against Benet.
Malloy is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.