Naperville North rides momentum into quarters

Updated: June 2, 2011 6:58PM

There will be some new faces — and a few unexpected faces — at the IHSA boys state volleyball tournament this weekend at Hoffman Estates.

Vernon Hills and Glenbard West will be making their first ever trip to the state finals. Edwardsville is not only making its first visit, it will be the first time any team from outside the Chicago area has qualified for the quarterfinals.

And then there is Naperville North. The Huskies have been there before. But no team ran a bigger gauntlet than Shane Witmer and company, who took down Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South and Wheaton Warrenville South to get there this time.

“How do we avoid a letdown (Friday)?” Naperville North coach Nate Bornancin said. “That’s not easy. We weren’t supposed to win these last three matches. We were the sixth seed in the sectional and were a combined 0-5 against the last three teams we played.”

Now comes Friday’s 1:00 p.m. quarterfinal against Oak Park, which defeated Naperville North 25-14, 19-25, 25-15 at the Tiger Classic earlier this season.

Here’s a look at today’s quarterfinals:

Naperville North (28-11) vs. Oak Park-River Forest (27-13), 1:00 p.m.

The difference between Naperville North a few weeks ago and the Huskies today? A healthy lineup with 6-6 junior Spencer Sauter stabilizing the back row, the decision to discard a 6-2 offense and a re-dedication to defense.

“We’ve been rolling with full lineup,” Bornancin said. “It’s given us some opportunities to do some things. We’re mixing up our offense, and our ball control definitely improves with Spencer in there. He’s so big and long in the back row.”

Oak Park is powered by setter Diego Rodriguez-Guerrios and outside hitter Ben Wilks.

Vernon Hills (35-4) vs. Edwardsville (25-1), 2:00 p.m.

Two teams from the furthest reaches of the state meet with a semifinal berth at stake. Vernon Hills, from the far north suburbs, was only the fourth-best team at the Lake County tournament but has since been unstoppable behind setter Justin Opitz and junior Thomas Robinson.

People may not know much about Edwardsville, but followers of girls volleyball remember Alabama standout Kayla Fitterer, who starred for the Tigers a few years ago. Her younger brother Eric, a 6-7 outside, and 6-5 John Pranger lead the third-year program.

St. Rita (22-17) vs. Glenbard West (32-7), 5:00 p.m.

Few teams can match the firepower of Glenbard West, which relies on 6-5 Adam Lepold, 6-7 junior Ian Lawson and 6-1 junior Alex Kahn. But it is the defense and passing of 5-11 libero Kevin McGinnis that make the Hilltoppers go.

St. Rita, led by Joe Biros, Joe Fashingbauer and Bobby Gallagher, is a battle-rested crew that faced top-level competition at the Tiger Classic and Richards tournament including WW South, Downers Grove South and Buffalo Grove.

New Trier (33-6) vs. Sandburg (36-3), 6:00 p.m.

Naperville North may have had the toughest road to state, but Sandburg might have the most daunting task at state. The Eagles are well-equipped for the task, however, with 6-5 outside Andrew Muys catching fire in support of 6-5 Bill Siroky and 6-9 Tommy Carmody.

New Trier boasts one of the top defenders anywhere in 5-6 libero Joe Coyne. Six-foot-3 Eric Kerr, 6-5 Jesse Solomon, 6-2 outside Andrew Gates and 6-5 Bennett Wakenight are coach Sue Ellen Haak’s top weapons.

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