No seniors, no problem for Phoenix

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Lincoln-Way North does not have any seniors, but its boys volleyball team does have a playoff victory.

The first-year Phoenix accomplished that by knocking off host Marian Catholic 25-14, 25-23 Monday night in a regional quarterfinal match in Chicago Heights. Lincoln-Way North will take on Lincoln-Way Central Tuesday night in a semifinal matchup.

“We get past [having no seniors] because once you’re out there playing, we’re all just players,” Phoenix sophomore setter Zak Erdmann said. “I think that was a pretty good [win] for us because we came out and fought hard and to come out with a win is [important] because we’re a young team.”

With Erdmann directing a balanced offense, Lincoln-Way North (14-16) turned a tight first game into a fairly easy victory. The Phoenix led 10-9 before Erdmann fed five different players for kills during a 15-5 run. He finished with 20 assists, two kills and two aces.

“Zak is basically the quarterback of our team,” North coach Matt Lawrence said. “He’s been doing a great job of running the offense. He’s really calm and consistent. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing; he’s the same guy.”

The Phoenix built a 16-9 lead in the second game, only to see Marian (10-21) rally to forge a 23-23 tie. But Erdmann set middle hitter Tyler Burke for a kill and Jon Hamm finished it with another kill.

“I think our middles played really well and they helped get a lot of key shots,” Erdmann said. “We also had a lot of key digs.”

Justin Morris led the North attack with eight kills, while Hamm added six kills and Burke had five. David Holliday paced the Spartans with nine kills and three blocks.

In the other quarterfinal, Oak Forest (20-10) equaled its school record for victories by trouncing Washington 25-7, 25-10. The Bengals served 15 aces, including six straight by Bill Sullivan during a 13-0 run in the opening set.

Dylan Mazur had seven kills and T.J. Ryan 14 assists for Oak Forest, which will play Providence Tuesday night. Providence beat the Bengals in the regional final last year.

“We can be pretty streaky serving,” Oak Forest coach Amanda Brown said. “We’ve got some tough jump servers. We’re hoping to get hot tomorrow at the right point and maybe get lucky and go on a couple streaks.”

Matthew Piasecki topped Washington with three kills.