Talk about a turnaround.
Marist’s boys volleyball team was ranked No. 2 in the country in the April 3 USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association poll heading into its California trip.
The RedHawks knew they had a shot — maybe two shots — at No. 1 Mira Costa.
The first one came on April 3 at Mira Costa and they suffered a 25-13, 25-12, 25-14 beatdown. But Marist faced the Mustangs two nights later in the championship of the Karch Kiraly Tournament of Champions in Santa Barbara and came up with wild 21-25, 26-28, 26-24, 25-22, 15-12 victory.
“We thought it was really embarrassing,” Marist senior hitter and tourney MVP Griffin McElroy said of the loss. “We didn’t just want to forget it. It was fuel to the fire for the tournament.
“If we didn’t have that game, I don’t think we would have done as well as we did in the tournament. It gave us that fuel and that fight and that drive. We wanted to play them again and we wanted to beat them.”
The RedHawks (11-1) went on to win three tournament matches, including a 23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-23 semifinal win over No. 3 Huntington Beach to set up the Mira Costa rematch.
“We figured a lot of things out against Huntington,” Marist coach Jordan Vidovic said. “They were awesome. We had some really long rallies. I think we figured ourselves out.
“We’re only eight to 10 games into our season and they are 30, so the tournament really helped us.”
Nathen Toth and Christian Teresi each had 15 kills in the title match against Mira Costa (28-2) and were named to the all-tournament team. Teresi had 38 assists and three blocks, McElroy had 11 kills and five blocks, Rorey Donnelly had 20 digs, Tommy Doherty had five kills and three blocks, and Matt Rahn had five kills.
Those USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association voters might have a hard time picking the No. 1 team the next poll.
Marist? Mira Costa. Someone else?
Vidovic is not worrying about it.
“This was more for establishing ourselves,” he said. “We didn’t care about proving anything to the other people there, we just wanted to show ourselves what we were capable of.
“Beating those two teams on the same day definitely shows something. But we have a long way to go on that stuff anyway.”
Hounds top West leader
In a battle of the Major League Rugby Eastern and Western Conference leaders, the Chicago Hounds came up with one of the biggest wins in their three-year history, topping West leader San Diego, 27-20, April 5 on the road.
Lucas Rumball scored the go-ahead try for the Hounds (6-1-0) at the 69-minute mark and Chris Hilsenbeck added the conversion to help sink San Diego (5-2).
The Hounds host Anthem RC (0-7-0) at 1 p.m. April 13 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
Fire teams both lose
The Chicago Fire’s Jonathan Bamba scored in the 32nd minute, but the team couldn’t keep the momentum going in a 2-1 MLS loss to the host New York Red Bulls on April 5.
The Fire (3-2-2) face Inter Miami CF at 3:30 p.m. April 13 at Soldier Field.
It will be interesting to see if international superstar Lionel Messi will make an appearance. In 2023 and 2024 the Fire drew big crowds for Miami, but Messi played in neither game.
The Fire II fell 3-2 to Red Bulls II on April 6 in an MLS NEXT Pro battle. Dylan Borso scored in the 49th minute and Cladio Cassano scored in the 91st minute for the Fire (2-2-0).
The Fire II visits Huntsville City April 20.
Stars return to the pitch
After a short International break, the Chicago Stars and the NWSL return this weekend.
The last-place Stars (0-3-0) visit Bay FC at 5 p.m. April 13. Bay is one of five teams in the 14-team league with a 1-1-1 record.
Legends to collide
SeatGeek Stadium will host a soccer legends match between Poland and Mexico at 3 p.m. May 3 in Bridgeview.
Tickets are on sale at bit.ly/PolandVsMexico.
Way to go Redhawks!!!!