By Joey Gelman
The Chicago Public League Boys Varsity Volleyball Championship is set after an exciting semifinal at Little Village High School.
In the first match of the evening, Lane Tech took on defending champion Whitney Young for a spot in the coveted CPL Championship.
Whitney Young reminded everyone in the gym just how good of a team they are, after quickly defeating Lane Tech in two sets (25-13-25-15). While Lane was close early in the match, Whitney Young pulled away to close out a quick two-set win.
Health is the key to Whitney Young’s postseason success, as many players have returned from injury for the most important part of the season.
“Everyone is back and healthy, “ said Head Coach Michael Quevedo. “[Everyone] is in full swing… We have all of our starting pieces as well as the chemistry we’ve built this whole season… everyone trusts each other and no one holds onto their errors anymore which is hard to break.”
Whitney Young scouted Lane Tech well prior to the match and their execution showed.
“I’m a big fan of their setters and their middles,” Quevedo said. “ So we decided to keep them out of system so their setter had to really work for that point.”
Young advanced to the title game to face the winner of the Taft vs. Jones matchup in the second semifinal match.
“ It feels great, we’re trying to go back to back, and if we carry this momentum all the way through, nothing is going to stop us,” Quevedo said.
The matchup between the Taft Eagles and Jones Eagles got off to a neck and neck start, with Taft securing a win in the first set in a close 26-24 battle. However, Jones would come back to take the second set, 25-20, setting the stage for a decisive third set. In the third set, Jones took control and won 25-16, winning the match 2-1 and punching their ticket to the championship.
“Been proud of them all season,” said Jones Head Coach Michael Strok.
Strok said there were three keys to the matchup that he will continue to employ for the championship.
“Just serving tough, staying aggressive, don’t be afraid of the moment… simple.”
Jones College Prep and Whitney Young will square off at 6:15pm at Little Village High School for the CPL Varsity Volleyball Championship after the conclusion of the Sophomore Championship between Von Steuben and Lane Tech beginning at 5pm.
