Every practice. Every match. Every day. The chatter never stopped.
Mike Herlihy and Lincoln-Way East couldn’t help but talk about a return to the state finals, wanting nothing more than to avenge last season’s runner-up finish.
Despite 16 stitches in his left hand, the senior middle hitter made sure the Griffins lived up to their words Saturday at Hoffman Estates.
Herlihy had 11 kills on 13 swings as Lincoln-Way East defeated Neuqua Valley 20-25, 25-21, 25-22 in an action-packed state championship mach in front of two rowdy fan bases.
“It’s all we thought about,” said Herlihy, a 6-foot-6 Loyola recruit. “We remember standing on that (losing) side last year, coming in second, and that’s what drove us and made us work harder everyday in the gym.”
With six collegiate players on its roster, Lincoln-Way East (39-3) showcased its depth as five players recorded at least four kills. Junior right-side hitter Wil McPhillips recorded 10 kills, while senior George Kougan had eight.
“After losing (Game) 1, coach (Kris) Fiore said to play for the guy next to you,” said Kougan, a 6-6 Dominican recruit. “We really did that. Pulling out the win, it feels great coming back from last year.
“When you have five people who can put the ball away, it’s crazy. We have such great team chemistry, and it really showed (Saturday).”
Neuqua Valley (33-8) had 19 kills from Jeremy Grove, who pounded out 31 kills in a state quarterfinal against Lincoln-Way West and 21 in the semis to down three-time defending champ Glenbard West.
“It’s really hard to hit over (East’s block),” Grove said. “It’s live or die by me hitting as hard as I can, and obviously that game, the balls didn’t fall our way.”
Neuqua Valley’s blitz to the state final was all the more impressive considering junior Kevin Kauling, a 6-foot-7 setter, missed the majority of the postseason to try out for the U.S. junior national team that will play in Costa Rica this month.
Kauling, who’s committed to Lewis, returned for the final day of the season and recorded 16 assists and six kills in the finals.
With Kauling and Grove leading the way, it looked like Neuqua Valley might storm off with the state title in two games. But East rallied from a 13-11 deficit in Game 2 behind an ace and a kill from Luis Zavala and strong back-row play from Blake Boykin (nine digs) and Danny Pacini (six digs).
“Our kids battled,” Fiore said. “The cards were stacked against us in Game 2. They just never gave up. They always believed in what they were here to do.”
The Griffins needed all hands on deck to raise the state championship trophy — especially Herlihy’s.
The star middle hitter missed the majority of the postseason after suffering a hand laceration. He came back, to his surprise, in dominant fashion for the final three matches of the year, hitting a whopping .846 in the championship match.
“I did (think I was out for the year), honestly,” Herlihy said. “But I came back at the perfect time, heading into the state tournament. It’s just unbelievable. I’m extremely blessed to be here, especially with this injury.”
“How many kids would come out with 16 stitches in their hands and say, ‘Let’s go. I’m ready to play?’” Fiore said. “Especially when you play front row and your blocking against kids that hit 60 miles per hour against your hand.”
Herlihy put down his 11th kill to give East a 21-18 lead in Game 3. An ace from Grove later cut East’s lead 23-22, but the Griffins scored the next two points, as McPhillips put the match away with a kill.
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Logan Malloy is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.