Lyons Township High School senior boys volleyball player Owen Carroll began the season holding a clipboard. The left-handed Carroll broke his right thumb and tore ligaments and tendons near the end of the boys basketball season. He returned to the back row, April 14, and full rotation, April 20.
“My coaches had me take notes on what I saw, defensively where I should be, the different positions,” Carroll said. “I’m used to being on the court so being on the bench you see the game differently so it was helpful.”
On May 2, Carroll was part of the Lions’ two comebacks to finish 13th at the annual 32-team Lincoln-Way East Invitational.
LTHS senior Brody Lee-Caracci was named to the all-tournament team.
“I feel really blessed about it. I couldn’t have done it without my team. I couldn’t have done it without my setters. I’m really grateful to everybody to earn this,” Brody-Caracci said. “I think our coaches are a big part because when our coaches have energy we also start to have energy. Then the whole bench starts to get happy and after we look to the bench on the court, we get excited. Then all of us start cheering for each other.”
In the Silver playoff bracket, the Lions (17-11, 4-1 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division) defeated Lockport 12-25, 25-19, 15-11 in their final match after beating Lane Tech 12-25, 25-21, 15-12 and losing their opener to ninth-place Lincoln-Way Central 25-22, 25-20.
In pool play Friday, the Lions beat Warren 23-25, 25-22, 15-13 and lost to Oak Park and River Forest 25-18, 25-20.
Riverside Brookfield (16-16, 5-1 in Upstate Eight Conference East Division) won the consolation title of the Cooper bracket and 29th overall. The Bulldogs finished by beating Morton 25-18, 25-14 after earlier beating Minooka 24-26, 25-15, 15-10 and losing to Hinsdale Central 34-32, 25-18. They lost to Marist and Trinity (Ky.) in two sets Friday.
The Lions trailed Lockport 7-3 in the third set but took the lead for good at 9-7 after five straight points served by Lee-Caracci, including two of their five aces in the set. Jack Hartman served for four points with two aces for match point at 14-10.
“It’s that attention to detail that I’ve been talking about, harping at practice, and fundamentals. I think we cleaned that up in the second and third set (against Lockport), which really helped turn it back into our favor,” LTHS coach Brad Skendzel said.
The Lions have key three-set Silver wins over Downers Grove North and York. They continue using different lineups and combinations, such as 10 players against Lockport.
Two points after entering off the bench, Oliver Sordyl had a kill for a 20-17 lead in the second set.
Sophomore Evan DeGraff was promoted for the Downers Grove South Invite April 24-25 and has been part of the two-setter offense with Michael Becker.
“It’s still a work in progress and I think the guys understand that,” Skendzel said. “Everyone has an opportunity where they make sure when I put you in a spot, you’re ready to perform.”
The Bulldogs’ Michael Austin (9 kills), Kyle Kummer (12 digs) and Gavin Sharenow (11 digs) helped avenge their three-set loss to Morton in the March 25 opener.
RBHS extended the winning streak to five with UEC East wins over Ridgewood May 5 and Glenbard South May 7 and Plainfield East Friday in their Willowbrook Invite opener.
Outlasting Glenbard South 26-24, 23-25, 25-17 secured the Bulldogs at least a share of the UEC East title. The Bulldogs beat co-leader Glenbard East (18-13, 4-1) but lost to Fenton 25-20, 28-26 April 30. The Rams played Fenton Tuesday in the conference finale.
Water polo
Only four teams reach the state finals this season, but both Lyons Township teams once again should be in contention. Both of the Lions’ possible sectional finals Saturday, May 16 and super-sectionals May 19 are at the south campus.
The LTHS boys are the No. 1 seed in the nine-team LT Sectional. Riverside-Brookfield is the No. 6 seed and opens with No. 3 St. Rita in the Wednesday, May 13 quarterfinals.
The LTHS girls are the No. 1 seed in their eight-team LT Sectional. Riverside-Brookfield is the No. 6 seed in the Fenwick Sectional and plays No. 3 Oak Park and River Forest in the Thursday, May 14 quarterfinals.