L-W Central finally tops a top team

It took half of the season and twice on Saturday, but Lincoln-Way finally broke through against a Top 10 team.

Dan Tansic had eight kills and five blocks and Brian Thorp added eight kills and 14 digs as Lincoln-Way Central (18-7) defeated No. 4 Glenbard East 18-25, 25-23, 25-19 in the championship of the Downers Grove North Invitational.

Glenbard East (15-2) had beaten the Knights 25-20, 25-15 in pool play, but could not close out the championship match after grabbing a 20-18 lead in game two.

“We came out with more intensity,” said Central outside Corey Bingham, who added seven kills. “They have some strong hitters, and once we figured out how to block them, that was the key.”

Six-foot-4 Andy Wingate added six kills and five blocks for the Knights, who never trailed in game three.

“All our losses are against top teams and by two or three points,” said Central coach Joann Holverson, whose team fell to No. 1 Providence in three games on Monday.

“We’ve been trying to work on what we could do to get two or three more points. Now, I think we belong in that elite level.”

Mark Jones led Glenbard East with 19 assists, 11 kills and four blocks. Dan Mader added 13 assists and nine kills. Peter Dabrowski had eight kills.

“They put up a nice block and played nice defense,” Glenbard East coach Marci Maier said. “But we did not execute as well as we could have. The momentum shifted after we led 10-5 in the second game. We still had our opportunities.”

Downers Grove North (4-15), which lost to Joliet Catholic (8-9) in pool play, defeated the Hilltoppers 25-16, 25-21 to take third place.