Sandburg overcomes big opponents

Updated: April 26, 2011 9:03PM

It’s not often athletes standing 6-foot-5 and 6-9 get intimidated by height on the opposing side.

However, Tuesday night in Game 1 of the SouthWest Suburban crossover between Lincoln-Way Central and Sandburg, that’s exactly how Sandburg’s Bill Siroky and Tom Carmody felt, seeing the Knights’ Brad Foster (6-8) and Clay Hermann (6-6) across the net.

“We were a little intimated looking at their height on their front line,” Siroky said. “We knew they were big in the front, and we’re used to towering over people. That showed in the first game.”

Sandburg was able to overcome its fear of heights, defeating Central 25-22, 25-12 in Orland Park.

“Our team played a little hesitant in the first game, but came out and played well in the second game,” Sandburg coach Sean Airola said. “We take pride in our court and want to win here at all costs.”

Game 1 was a nail-biter, with ties at 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 before Siroky (9 kills, 4 blocks) sent down two kills and a combo block with Nick Bendell to seal the win for Sandburg (18-3, 3-0).

“We didn’t play our game. They are a great team and it showed in the first game,” Siroky said. “We have them in our sectional, so they are a dangerous team, but we’re happy we got a win over them.”

Game 2 was all Sandburg. The Eagles broke out to a 15-4 lead behind three kills and two blocks from Carmody (5 kills, 4 blocks). Central never got to within 11 from there.

“It’s a good win, but we need to keep looking forward in our season,” Carmody said. “It doesn’t matter what the scores are in the game, but that we improve that matters.”

Central (12-11, 3-1) was led by Sean Blackwood (7 kills) and Alex Severson (5 kills).

“We played well the first game,” Central coach Joann Holverson said. “In the second game we just relaxed and a couple of their hitters got really hot.

“You can’t make errors against a team like Sandburg.”

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