Providence, Glenbard E. eye showdown

A state final between No. 1 and No. 2? Or how about an unprecedented fifth title for the state's most prolific boys program?

The boys state volleyball finals begin today when No. 1 Providence takes on Glenbrook North at 1 at Hoffman Estates.

Providence (34-1) emerged from arguably the toughest sectional in the state to make its first quarterfinal appearance since 1998. The Lincoln-Way Central Sectional featured the Celtics, No. 6 Marist, No. 10 Sandburg and the unranked but dangerous hosts.

But the Celtics will have their hands full in their quarterfinal with No. 3 Glenbrook North (36-2), which is back for the first time since 2004. If Providence survives that test, a potential matchup with four-time state champion Wheaton Warrenville South looms.

A battle between All-Area selections Eric Daliege of Providence and Billy Vydra of Glenbrook North likely will be decided by both players' supporting casts. Dan Ruzich, Hayden Grove and setter Jonathan Gustafson back up Daliege.

Meanwhile, No. 2 Glenbard East, champion of the always-rugged DuPage Valley Conference and runaway winner of the Willowbrook Sectional, could be waiting for Providence in the title match Saturday.

Glenbard East will face Neuqua Valley (36-3) at 5. Can Jake Blackman, Rob Bauer, Collin Adler and the Wildcats stop the Glenbard East express? Both teams have experience. Neuqua lost to WW South in the 2007 semifinals and had to settle for third place. The Rams finished third in 2006 when Dan Mader was a sophomore.

The Rams (36-3) have to get past Neuqua Valley in the quarterfinals and either long shot Oak Park or No. 5 Buffalo Grove in the semifinals to reach the title game. But they appear to have all the weapons necessary to hoist the big trophy.

''We just have to play our game,'' said Mader, the Sun-Times Player of the Year. ''It's no different than any other game except perhaps for the bigger crowd. We just have to communicate well, and we'll be fine.''

WW South (31-7), which has won three of the last four state titles, poses sizeable problems for quarterfinal foe Brother Rice at 2 p.m. with 6-4 Eric Hardek, 6-9 Rob Samp and 6-10 Neill Nystrom taking the ball from setter Joe Kelly.

Kevin Padden and Kevin Donahue lead Brother Rice (28-11), which was ranked No. 1 last year before losing in the quarters.

In the last quarterfinal at 6, Oak Park (17-22) faces Buffalo Grove (29-5).

Joe Ascher, at 6-6, is the big gun for the Bison, which is back for the first time since upsetting WW South in the 2006 quarterfinals.

Tom Angerame runs the Bison attack and will look for Ascher against sophomore Tim Schmidt and Oak Park.