Marist, Providence on collision course

Marist's Kevin Przychodni (right) hits the ball as Sandburg's Matt Fox tries to block him.
(Jason Han/SouthtownStar)

Font Size

Email

Bookmark

Black Text

White Text

As if playing in a rugged sectional semifinal match wasn't emotional enough, senior members of the Marist and Sandburg boys volleyball teams also graduated Thursday.

After the two squads battled through a back-and-forth three-game match that went right down to the wire, Marist's seniors got to go to their ceremony on a real high note.

The RedHawks rallied from a 16-11 deficit in the third game to pull out a 25-23, 21-25, 25-23 victory over the Eagles in the Lincoln-Way Central Sectional.

Marist (28-5) advances to Tuesday's sectional championship match against top-ranked Providence (33-1), which beat the host Knights 25-17, 25-22 in the other semifinal.

"Even though things weren't looking too good for us in the third game, we stlll found a way to win," said RedHawks coach Bob St. Leger, a former standout at Sandburg. "It's an unbelievable feeling to beat them again."

Marist was paced by Joe Smalzer (12 kills, 10 blocks, four aces), Kevin Przychodni (9 kills), Matt Jercich (9 kills, 13 blocks), Evan Bruton (11 blocks) and Keith Podalak (23 digs).

Sandburg (29-8) was led by Matt Pollock (10 kills, 10 blocks), Tyler Parks (nine kills), Mitch Thompson (eight kills, four blocks), Ryan Piper (21 assists) and Joe Rondinella (17 assists).

In the other match, the Celtics controlled things in the first game and pulled out a tight win in the second game to claim their third victory of the season over the Knights.

"Central is a great team that plays good defense and does smart things," Celtics coach Cindy Olczyk said. "But my guys knew what the game plan was and worked hard. They were ready and did what they had to do."

Providence was led by Dan Ruzich (nine kills, 21 digs), Eric Daliege (eight kills, three blocks), Hayden Grove (five kills), Chase Pavlick (21 digs, three aces) and Jonathan Gustafson (24 assists).

The Knights (29-9) were paced by Brian Thorp (nine kills, six assists), Corey Bingham (five kills), Ryan Warning (four kills), Connor Wexter (eight assists) and Bobby Brodinski (eight digs).