Boys Volleyball: Elgin surges past St. Edward
By Tim Sieck For Sun-Times Media May 17, 2012 9:26PM
Updated: May 20, 2012 10:41PM
Elgin used a 12-0 run in the third and decisive game against St. Edward on Thursday to lead the Maroons to a 23-25, 25-22, 25-14 victory over the Green Wave at Chesbrough Field House.
Thursday’s regular-season finale was senior night as the Maroons said goodbye to six seniors. For Elgin coach Scott Stewart, the Maroons are starting to peak at the right time of the season.
“Today was the best we have played all season long,” said Stewart. “I’ve told the kids all season that the regular season is important, but you need to play your best if you want to advance in the postseason.”
The first game featured back-and-forth action with each team taking advantage of mistakes.
Elgin (7-27) would respond in Game 2 thanks in part to a fast start in which it led 11-5. The Green Wave (12-5) wouldn’t go away, but Elgin was able to hang on.
Game 3 would start off like the first two games with both teams tied at 11. That is when Elgin would take over. The Maroons would score the next 12 points and hold on again.
Seniors Elrich Keophilalay and Angel Hernandez were huge contributors in their team’s victory. Keophilalay had eight kills for Elgin while Hernandez added 33 assists.
“It feels so good to get a win on senior night,” said Keophilalay. “We are playing well right now and it was important to get a win before regionals.”
“When we have fun, we play a lot better,” said Hernandez, a first-team All-Upstate Eight setter. “We talked a lot more than we usually do in this match and that helped us.”
St. Edward ended its successful regular season in defeat, but coach Claudia Sandoval knows what it will take to play well at regionals.
“We really need to improve our attitude if we want to advance,” said Sandoval. “We have played well most of the season, and practice will be important.”
