The Deerfield boys volleyball team got some good news late last week when Nick Tonner was cleared to practice.
Tonner, a senior captain and starting right-side hitter, had been out since April 17 after suffering a high left ankle sprain during a match against Warren. Tonner said he went through a light practice Friday, May 1, before engaging in a full workout the next day. He said he expected to play in a match against Highland Park on Tuesday, May 5.
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“It felt good for the most part, but it’s a little sore,” Tonner said of his ankle after Saturday’s practice. “My range of motion was pretty stiff, and I am trying to get back into shape.”
Without the 6-foot-5 Tonner in the lineup, the Warriors were 4-5 entering this week. They went 1-1 last week, losing to league leader Maine East and beating Niles North.
“He’s one of our offensive weapons, for sure,” Deerfield coach Eugene Chung said. “It made us more predictable. He also puts up a nice block and makes us stronger defensively.
“Missing him was difficult. He is one of our leaders.”
In his second season on varsity, Tonner switched from setter to right-side hitter. Although setter is Tonner’s natural position, the Warriors had a need for him as a hitter.
“That’s the great thing about him,” Chung said. “He will do whatever we ask of him.”
Tonner spent the offseason after his junior year playing as a right-side hitter for his club, Adversity.
“It wasn’t a huge transition for me,” he said. “But it is a lot different position for me. I’m no longer in charge of the offense anymore. Last year, I had more control of what happened on offense. But I am willing to help the team however I can.”
Coming into this week, Deerfield had four more CSL North matches and two more tournaments in the run-up to the state playoffs, which start May 25. The Warriors won regional titles in 2013 and 2014 and advanced to the state tournament for the first time in program history in 2013.
“We lost 10 seniors, so we know we are going to better by the end of the season,” Chung said. “The guys have been highly motivated, and it’s all about improving each day with the bigger goal in mind, which is to make another run at the state tournament.
“When Nick was out, I think we fell away from our season-ending goals and focused on the wins and losses. Now that Nick is back, he definitely will make us a stronger team and we will re-focus ourselves.”
Twitter: @harnesspreps