It was thumbs-up for senior Luke Dwyer and Brother Rice on May 15 as the Crusaders knocked off nationally ranked Marist. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Area Sports Roundup | Brother Rice and Lyons boys volleyball top Illinois’ top-ranked teams
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
The boys volleyball postseason opened this week, but what happened during the last week of the regular season was perhaps as unexpected as any playoff upset.
It started May 15, when host Brother Rice knocked off Marist, 27-25, 16-25, 25-20. The RedHawks entered the match ranked sixth in the nation by the USA Today/United States Volleyball Association and was second among Illinois teams. Shauniel Nelson led the Crusaders with 13 kills and Brendan McCarthy added eight.
The next day, Lyons went one better, knocking off Glenbard West, 32-30, 25-20. West was ranked fifth in the nation and was the top Illinois school on the list.
West had won 32 consecutive matches after opening the season with a loss to Lincoln-Way East. It appeared the defending state champs, which had two wins over Marist, was clicking on all cylinders before running into the Lions.
Dwyer honored
Whether Brother Rice head beaten Marist or not, that night was going to be filled with celebration, as retiring Crusaders coach Dan Dwyer was honored. Dwyer has been either a head coach or assistant for all 31 years the Brother Rice program has existed. The Crusaders have more than 700 wins in their history.
Paul Ickes was the coach for the first 559 matches from 1993 through 2014 and was on hand to deliver a pregame speech. He talked about a chance meeting with Dwyer before a Prep Bowl football game at Soldier Field.
“I had Dan my first year of teaching at Rice,” Ickes said. “I told Dan I had permission to start Brother Rice’s volleyball program and we were going to begin competing in spring 1993.”
Dwyer told him that was great and that he had played club volleyball at Marquette. He wanted to know how he could help.
“I told him to come to school on Monday and he did,” Ickes said. “That’s how it all got started.”
Dwyer has been a staple with the program for three decades.
“The numbers on the banners speak for themselves and Dan Dwyer has been a part of every single one of them,” Ickes said. “Tonight, there are many alumni parents, coaches, managers and players at Brother Rice that played here, including Marist head coach Jordan Vidovic.
“Tonight, we honor coach Dwyer. Dan, congratulations on an amazing career. You helped establish this program and provided numerous opportunities for literally thousands of young men in the Southland to play volleyball. The game that we all love.”
Another oddity happened to close the week when St. Rita (18-16 in regular season) fell to Providence (11-23), 25-15, 25-21, then turned around the next night and knocked off Lyons (29-6).
Champs
Brother Rice tied Loyola for the Chicago Catholic League title with a 12-25, 25-21, 25-13 victory over the Ramblers on May 18. Both had 9-1 league records. The Crusaders finished the regular season with a 28-7 mark.
Marist recovered from its nonconference loss to the Crusaders to finish unbeaten in the East Suburban Catholic Conference to win its eighth straight league title.
Reavis won the South Suburban Conference with a 10-0 mark and did not drop a set in its league matches.
Red Stars continue reeling
The Chicago Red Stars stayed in last place in the NWSL standings after dropping a 4-0 road decision to defending league champion Portland (4-1-3) on May 21.
The Red Stars (1-6-1) hope to get back on the winning track when they host the Orlando Pride (3-4-1) at 7 p.m. May 27 in an NWSL game at SeatGeek Stadium. They have a quick turnaround with a 7 p.m. game in Bridgeview against Racing Louisville on May 31 in a Challenge Cup contest.
Osorio scores, Fire II loses
Harold Osorio scored in his third straight game but the Chicago Fire II lost, 3-2, on the road to Toronto on May 21 in an MLS NEXT Pro game.
Michael Nesci scored his first professional goal for Chicago (2-3-3).
On May 20, the Fire II signed Norwegian defender Andreas Ueland to a NEXT Pro contract for the rest of the year. The 23-year-old played at Virginia.
The Fire II hosts Crown Legacy at 5 p.m. on May 28 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. Crown Legacy (7-1-1) is affiliated with the Charlotte Football Club.
Hounds lose again
The Chicago Hounds scored first on a Luke Carty kick, but it was all Seattle (10-2-0) after that as the Hounds suffered a 35-13 road loss in May 20 in Major League Rugby.
The Hounds (1-11-0) take on the Houston SaberCats (7-5-0) on the road at 7 p.m. May 27. Houston beat Chicago, 38-21, earlier this season in Bridgeview.
4 Comments
Local News
Oak Lawn officials rip governor, legislators over crime
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Two Oak Lawn officials are calling for Gov. J.B. Pritzker and local legislators to re-evaluate a police reform law that they say has resulted in a rise in crime. Trustee Alex Olejniczak (2nd) served as mayor pro-tem during the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting Tuesday night in place of Mayor Terry Vorderer,…
Troop 1441 Scout earns Eagle rank
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A journey that began years ago for Adrian Ayala recently culminated in Boy Scouting’s highest honor. Ayala, a member of Boy Scout Troop 1441 (sponsored by the St. Mary Star of the Sea Holy Name Society) was honored at an Eagle ceremony at Duggan Hall on Jan. 13. The Eagle rank…
Hog Wild to open Monday in Oak Lawn
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Dining choices will get a boost in Oak Lawn with the arrival of Hog Wild. The restaurant is scheduled to open Monday, January 17, at 4040 W. 111th St. That’s a week later than originally scheduled. “We are very fortunate here in Oak Lawn to have attracted Hog Wild,” Oak…
Home security cameras could be big help to Orland cops
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Residents of Orland Park could have a hand in solving crime in the village. The board of trustees unanimously approved to move forward with a voluntary security camera registration program at its Jan. 4 meeting. It’s expected to start on Feb. 1. This program gives citizens and businesses a chance…
Ailing eagle on the mend
Spread the loveSeveral blocks northwest of Garfield Ridge—just west of 47th and Harlem–motorists late last month noticed an eagle flying low and acting erratically. The Villa Park-based Chicago Bird Collision Monitors was contacted, and its volunteers found and captured the majestic bird. It was transported to a facility owned and operated by Glen Ellyn-based Willowbrook…
Can’t we just fast-forward to spring?
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Hi everyone. Is it spring yet? Is the pandemic over yet? Not that I’m impatient or anything. I want to move forward past all the negative COVID-19 has brought to my life and everyone else’s life. I want to see…
Scavenger Sale different this year, Pappas says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ 2022 Scavenger Sale will look different, as the Treasurer’s Office takes steps to help small developers, homeowners and investors rebuild neighborhoods and create generational wealth. Under Illinois law, the Treasurer’s Office is required to conduct a Scavenger Sale every two years, offering at auction the…
Give poor countries a break, Chuy says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) is one of 18 Members of Congress who recently sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging her to use the voice and vote of the United States at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to abolish the IMF’s surcharge policy, which requires countries…
Neighbors
Pritzker pledges to expand access to mental health care in Illinois
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In the middle of Mental Health Awareness Month, Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton hosted a panel in Springfield this week at which he pledged to expand the state’s behavioral health services. With several dozen services providers from around the state in attendance, Pritzker…
With 1 week left in session, Pritzker admin says all revenue options remain on the table
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com While the governor’s office instructed its agency directors to prepare for $800 million in potential budget cuts last week, all facets of his plan to raise $1.1 billion in revenue to avoid those cuts remain under consideration. Read more: ANALYSIS: ‘Significant enough’ opposition to Pritzker’s revenue plan leads to…
Illinois launches summer food assistance program
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The state is launching a new program to provide food assistance during the summer for families with children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school. Gov. JB Pritzker joined other state officials and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Thursday to announce that Illinois will…
Lawmakers consider tax break for news publishers, state-sponsored journalism scholarships
By ALEX ABBEDUTO & ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A new measure being debated in the Illinois General Assembly would create a tax credit for certain news publishers based on the number of reporters they employ. The proposal from Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, is part of a package of policies that he…
House gives OK to new state agency focused on early childhood programs
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House gave final passage Thursday to a bill establishing a new cabinet-level state agency whose mission will be to provide a kind of one-stop shop for services focusing on early childhood development and education. By the time it’s fully operational in 2026, the new…
As vacated Centralia funeral home prepares for new tenant, owner makes a startling find
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com In the basement of a Centralia funeral home in a dark hallway off the embalming room, tucked inside a nook behind two steel plates and a door, a visitor found three disembodied, neatly wrapped human legs, two of them marked with names and dated to the 1960s. The…
Illinois Supreme Court considers expectation of privacy in hospitals
By DILPREET RAJU & ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – While Cortez Turner was in a hospital room being treated for a gunshot wound to his leg in 2016, police took his clothes. Now, the Illinois Supreme Court is weighing whether that action violated Turner’s expectation of privacy under the Fourth Amendment. The…
Capitol Briefs: House OKs program for student teacher stipends – but not the funding for it
By PETER HANCOCK & ANDREW CAMPBELL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House approved a bill Tuesday to allow student teachers to receive stipends while earning their education degree, even though the money needed to fund those stipends is unlikely to be included in next year’s budget. House Bill 4652, by Rep. Barbara…
As Medicaid redeterminations restart, about 73% of state’s recipients remain enrolled
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com About 73 percent of Illinois’ Medicaid recipients remain on the rolls after the first redetermination cycle following the COVID-19 pandemic, while approximately 660,000 recipients have been disenrolled. Speaking at a news conference in Chicago, Gov. JB Pritzker celebrated the fact that 2.6 million Illinoisans remained on the rolls…
Capitol Briefs: Republicans sue over law banning legislative candidate slating
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com One week after Gov. JB Pritzker signed an elections-related measure that his fellow Democrats quickly muscled through the General Assembly, Republicans sued over the new law, alleging the majority party is blocking ballot access to would-be legislative candidates. The law , passed early this month as the legislature’s…
[…] Related Article […]
[…] Source […]
[…] Source […]
[…] Source […]