Marist's Andrew Kopinski, a Palos South grad, gets ready for an attack against Glenbard West on Thursday. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Area Sports Roundup: Marist knocks off Glenbard West in battle of nationally ranked volleyball teams
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
Power on power didn’t work the first time around.
Power here and there, mixed in with some savvy soft shots, did the trick the second time.
In a battle of two of the top 11 teams in the nation, according to the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association May 11 rankings, No. 11 Marist won a rematch over No. 3 Glenbard West with a 25-21, 25-23 victory May 12 in Chicago.
The first time the two teams met, many of Marist’s hearty kill attempts were blocked back toward its side of the court in a 25-20, 25-15 setback at the Brother Rice Smack Attack on April 23.
This time around, there was a mix of power and well-placed rolls and tips to keep the Hilltoppers (30-3) guessing.
“We wanted to have a little more variety and create some openings,” Marist coach Jordan Vidovic said. “We wanted to force some of the plays and force them to do some things, which we didn’t do last time. We didn’t pressure them enough the first time.”
Glenbard West played without its top player, Danny Dorsey, in the first matchup, but the Hilltoppers were at full strength last week.
Marty Canavan led the RedHawks (31-2-1 after the match) with 10 kills and six digs, while Kellen O’Keefe added eight kills and six digs. Setter Christian Teresi had 32 assists and Brendan Schoeberl had 12 digs.
Crazy week for Crusaders
The rough-and-tumble Chicago Catholic League Blue baseball title went to Brother Rice, as the Crusaders finished with a 16-2 record to win the title outright. They shared the championship with St. Rita and St. Laurence last year.
“It’s always a goal to win the CCL — it’s a goal of ours,” third-year Crusaders coach Sean McBride said. “It’s a great thing for our school and for our team. It’s something they strive for every year.
“It’s the best league in the Midwest and to win it is an accomplishment.”
It was a wild week for Brother Rice (28-4 entering this week).
The Crusaders took an 11-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth against St. Laurence on May 9, but gave up nine in that frame and sweated out a 13-11 victory in Burbank.
They picked up the league clincher the next day with a 10-0 five-inning home victory over the Vikings. Christian Holmes and Nick Daugherty homered for Rice.
It was back to craziness May 12 with an 11-11, 10-inning tie with Lemont in the Do It Stevie’s Way Tournament. The game was suspended because of darkness.
The Crusaders won a 4-2 decision over Loyola May 14 to close the CCL season.
Sunday?
Well, the Crusaders didn’t rest. They finished the Lemont game and scored four runs in the 12th as Holmes and Daugherty drove in runs, and hung on for a 15-13 win.
Later that day, they faced bitter rival Marist and won, 14-5. Junior Bryce Nevils had three hits including a home run.
It was quite a week.
“It’s an out-of-this-world experience to be a part of this team,” said Holmes, a De La Salle transfer and Kansas State recruit. “I love this. It’s amazing.”
SXU softball players heralded
Saint Xavier University senior catcher Brittany Schultz was named the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year and earned First Team All-CCAC and head coach Erin Mollohan-Corrao claimed the CCAC Coach of the Year award.
Schultz is the first Cougar to win the Player of the Year award since former All-American Nicole Nonnemacher won it in 2016. It is the first Coach of the Year for SXU since Myra Minuskin won the award in 2015 and 2016.
Other first team members were senior outfielder Lyda Robinson, junior outfielder Sarah Bowen, junior infielder Morgan Haefling and freshman pitcher Julianne Claas.
Sophomore infielder Alexus Reese was named Second Team All-CCAC.
More awards could be coming as the Cougars (36-6, ranked 25th in the nation by NAIA coaches) are in the NAIA Opening Round Tournament, which got underway May 16 in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Local News
Brother Rice names Al Perez next soccer coach
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent A few new coaches are dotting the area high school athletic scene. One of the more notable hires was Brother Rice bringing Al Perez aboard as the soccer coach. Perez led Chicago Public League power Washington to a Class 2A state championship in 2013, a fourth-place finish in 2015…
Police Council rallies to save ShotSpotter
Spread the love. By Alexis Bocanegra Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (773) 949-1509 • grcl.alex23@gmail.com . Chicago Lawn (8th) District Police Council members Mark Hamberlin, Al Cacciottolo and Jason Huff have created an online petition to save ShotSpotter. As you may have read in the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound back in March, Mayor…
Chicago sports stadium drama heats up
Spread the love. By Rich Miller . More sports team stadium drama could be on the horizon as the Chicago White Sox are said, as of this writing, to be preparing to announce a significant private investment in a new South Loop ballpark. The ballclub has already demanded a share of the Illinois Sports Facilities…
Capacity crowd speaks out against Evergreen Park dispensary
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Additional chairs had to be brought out to seat an overflow crowd of Evergreen Park residents who attended a meeting April 15 regarding a proposed cannabis dispensary for the village. And many who were in attendance voiced their opposition to having a dispensary in Evergreen Park. Most of the people cited…
Countryside puts dog park on hold, will require leashes in two parks
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The city of Countryside has put on hold building a dog park, but canines and their owners are still in store for a treat. The city council has unanimously approved a plan to permit dogs in City Park and Countryside Park this year. Previously, they were not allowed in the…
Bridgeview approves auto repair shop
Spread the loveMoves up time for May 1 village board meeting By Steve Metsch Bridgeview is getting a new automotive repair shop. The village board at its April 17 matinee meeting approved a special use permit that will allow a repair shop at 9010 S. Beloit Ave. There was no discussion among trustees. The board…
Summit Fire Department blood drive draws a crowd
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan The Summit Fire Department, along with the Village of Summit, and the Argo Summit Lions Club held a blood drive this past Saturday, and it drew a crowd that even impressed the American Red Cross. It took place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with non-stop donors walking through the…
Hodgkins toasts village businesses
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Hodgkins Mayor Ernest Millsap and the Board of Trustees celebrated the village’s businesses at its annual Business Appreciation Breakfast on April 10. Over 100 people gathered at the Hodgkins Administration Center for a hearty breakfast hosted by the village. Representatives from many businesses that are located in or that work…
Pickleball courts coming to Palos Park
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva There will finally be outdoor pickleball in Palos Park. In a process that went longer than anticipated, the Palos Park Village Council was able give the green light to get a pickleball project started on the Village Green. The council voted April 8 to award the contract to U.S. Tennis…
First Secure Bank to host American Eagle gold coin sale
Spread the loveFrom staff reports First Secure Bank & Trust of Palos Hills announced its annual May sale of 1-ounce and ¼-ounce American Eagle Gold Coins, produced by the U.S. Mint, will take place from 10 a.m.to noon on Saturdays, May 4, May 11, May 18 and May 25. The sale will take place at…
Neighbors
Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall. Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…
Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families. “No one…
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot. It’s a move that caused minority party…
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…
Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air
Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor. “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…
Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated
By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…
Immigrant advocates tout new report showing benefits of state-funded health plans
By PETER HANCOCK and JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Immigrant rights advocates on Friday continued to push for one of their top budget priorities: full funding for state-run health care programs that benefit noncitizens, regardless of their immigration status. Those programs offer health coverage for low-income individuals who would otherwise qualify for…