By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
Adversity was faced with adversity.
As a result, its dreams of a national championship were dashed.
Adversity 16 Adidas-South still finished tied for fifth in the nation at 50th AAU Boys National Volleyball Championships held in Orlando, Florida, in early July. The team is top-heavy with rising juniors from Marist.
One of those RedHawks, middle hitter Griffin McElroy, suffered an ankle injury July 3 in Adversity’s fifth match in the tournament. The team hung on for a 25-10, 25-15 victory over the Torrimar Volleyball Club from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Without McElroy, Adversity had to scramble and shuffle players around but prevailed, 25-18, 25-18, over Bay to Bay from Campbell, California. In June, Bay to Bay beat Adversity in the SoCal Cup in Los Angeles.
That put Adversity in the championship round, where it easily beat the Arizona Fear, 25-14, 25-15. But the run came to an end with a 25-18, 25-15 loss to Balboa Bay of Long Beach, California, in the quarterfinals.
Balboa Bay won the national championship.
McElroy, Delvin Biggs, Nathen Toth, Christian Teresi, Jacob Finley and Rorey Donnelly are Adversity members who play at Marist. Carter Mosel of Brother Rice is also on the team.
Teresi was named to the all-tournament team.
630 Volleyball took second in the nation. Its roster featured Lyons standouts Gavin Monkton and Tyler Chambers.
Girls All-Americans
The 1st Alliance/Lion Volleyball club, which has locations and practices in Western Springs, LaGrange, Oak Lawn and Orland Park had a number of players make the 88 member Junior Volleyball Association’s All-National Team
High school graduates who made the team were:
Jordan Heatherly, 5-10, setter, Lyons, Memphis
Gigi Navarrete, 5-7, libero, Mother McAuley, Northwestern
Kennedy Wagner, 6-1, outside hitter, Valparaiso (Indiana), Clemson
Seniors who made the team were:
Ava Falduto, 5-8, libero, Immaculate Conception, verbal commitment to Penn State
Grace Nelson, 6-1, outside hitter, Oak Park-River Forest, verbal commitment to Kansas
Ellie White, 6-0, setter, Mother McAuley, verbal commitment to Michigan
Underclassmen who made the team were:
Hannah Kenny, junior, 5-8, setter, Willowbrook
Abby Vander Wal, junior, 6-3, outside hitter, Timothy Christian
Aniya Warren, junior, 5-8 libero, Benet
Lynney Tarnow, sophomore, 6-4, middle hitter, Benet
Honors, honors, honors
Marist’s Isabel Cunnea was named MaxPreps first team All-American after hitting .491 with 23 homers and 73 RBI to help lead the RedHawks to the IHSA Class 4A state softball championship. She was also named first-team All-American by Extra Inning Softball.
Mount Carmel grad Ed Prystalski was named to the Illinois Water Polo Hall of Fame as a player and an official.
Oak Lawn Athletic Director Jeremey Cryan was recognized by the Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association as a certified athletic administrator.
Born on the First of July
Veteran NFL lineman Michael Schofield and his wife, Olympic hero Kendall Coyne Schofield, both Sandburg graduates, welcomed their first child, Drew John Schofield, into the world on July 1.
Shimko to Oak Park
George Shimko, who coached at Queen of Peace and St. Laurence, has been named the new girls basketball coach at Oak Park-River Forest.
Shimko started the girls program at St. Laurence after Queen of Peace closed and led the Vikings to a 94-80 record in six seasons.
Such a tremendous year for these boys. Amazing talent and athleticism. Be proud of your achievements!