The Playoffs have begun

Hello listeners and fans...

so the Playoffs have started and boy are we under way for a great playoffs.

KGriff89 and myself (drpeterferreri) called a Maria vs. CICS ellison game. The theme was more or less who was going to make the least amount of mistakes. Ellison have a great rally in the first set but Maria proved strong, and Maria ended strong dominated the second set to move on in the regional round.

We have a great slate of games this week and it is shocking to see how things have ended this season and how it STILL can be anyones league.

Yes the power of York may carry them all the way to the 4A championship, but this can all change with the right night and playing the right time.

Business as usual?

Greetings from Sunny Elmhurst Illinois! The TRI-Man team of Sleeter, JoePitt, and Alex "I wish I was J." Lo covering a cross-conference match-up between warriors of Willowbrook and the Dukes of York. Alex got a little misty-eyed walking in through the doors of his alma mater...it was actually a little uncomfortable, Sleeter and I agreed. Especially when he started hugging random faculty. It happened! And Alex isn't here to prove otherwise!

Tonight was Senior night at York. Now, the last few Senior nights myself or Alex has attended, the festivities have seemed to get the better of the home team. Tonight, though, this was not the case. York showed why they are one of the top ranked teams in the state.

To the Warriors credit they started set number one keeping stride with the Dukes. M. Klaassen, J. Conley, and strong play from Libero S. Hernandez were the brightest spots on this young team that plays in a tough conference.

When you play a team like York it becomes a good measuring stick for you. And the Warriors have nothing to be afraid of. Set one went to York 11-25. Set two went quickly. With the set and match firmly in hand Coach Iverson of York began switching her starters out. Sophmores R. Iverson and A. Nosek making the biggest impact of the underclassmen. In the end the Dukes of York (gosh it's fun to type that) took set two 8-25.

Our Voolii Lifestyle (www.vooliiboom.com) trend setter of the match was actually very special as we had the four Seniors from York stop by our broadcast booth (FINE! It's a table...let us dream). These four ladies are captains on the team and it isn't hard to see why Leadership on the court. Skill in offense and defense. The ability to play call, make adjustments, and know when to let someone else make the play. C. Rose, M. Semmelhack, K. Gallagher, S. Schrenker led their team to victory tonight and hopefully to a deep playoff run.

I know this is my first year calling volleyball and I haven't seen all the teams in the state. But, if I could go out on a limb. I am picking York as my personal favorite to go all the way. They have the power up front, the clear leadership, and a deep bench that is balanced from top to bottom.

We are only a couple weeks away from the playoffs...Time will tell if I am right.

Till next time true believers!

Mahalo

-JoePitt

Epenesa...WOW

So I have covered hundreds of volleyball matches in my career, high school through club and college. I have uttered many names and phrases through this, but none have impacted a set/match/team/school like Epenesa.

Last year Kelli Lamberti was all-"everything" on her way to gatorade player of the year and 2010 ILL HS All star MVP along with many other honors and accolades. To this is the only comparasion that I am able to make.

However there is just something different about Epenesa this year. Whether its the light hearted demeanor, the down home team mindset, the constant smile and encouraging words or just her MAD skills to pummel a volleyball, Sam really has improved her game to another "Lamberti" level.

Lamberti had a name cast around her, especially with Colleen Smith as setter and great defense.

But Epenesa has a cast around her that works like poetry. the FLOW of the game last night was something of which one would read in a book or sonnet. They truly FLOW with one another. One player moves here, the other moves there and within the meter of the poem, the final piece of the play is brought out and BOOM, Kill by Epenesa.

The fluidity is something coach says is inspired by her team, and of course team capt. Sam E.

Coach said how there are times where practice will be over, but the girls want to go over rotations again, or run MORE drills. During a drill, Sam almost knocked coach Parker unconcious with a 5 foot line MONSTER kill. Sam stated is was the absolute perfect set. Coach just remembers the pain. So do most floor boards, and so does the hopes of most opposing players trying to block, or return a Sam E kill.

Throughout my time I have seen BIG kill zone players. The aforementioned Lamberti, the THOR hammer of Vonderhaar, and the kill switch of Lara Ontko. However Sam E has the consistency to hit the 10 foot line on a b-line angle unlike anything I have seen. Was it just the night? Was it the press / attention from us at SportsTownChicago? OR is the consistency just there.

We will find out as the season concludes and Edwardsville makes their way NORTH toward the state championships.

Great way to end the GO SOUTH SPORTS SERIES, with a Edwardsville EYE opening/widening win.

SportsTownChicago.com, WE'RE IN A LEAGUE OF OUR OWN

Another Night down SOUTH

So instead of having Wednesday night "off" from Volleyball down south...we decided to hop over the border and cover some of the top Missouri volleyball. MAIN reason? Oakville is a top volleyball school in the state of MO, ANNNNND they compete against some of the top teams in SO, IL such as Edwardsville and Bellville East. SPEAKING of these teams....

TOMORROW is going to be our continuation of the GO SOUTH SPORTS SERIES with BellVille East @ Edwardsville for our Volleyball Game of the week!

Make sure you tune in to this battle....its the main reason we are down south to begin with!

Has someone told you yet why we are down south? well in case they didn't, here you go!

We host the IL HS GIRLS VB All star game. We want ALL of the state to be represented in this game and there are TOP players in the state who happen to play in SO, Illinois. i.e. edwardsville, heyworth, Breese Central and the like. Instead of just seeing these girls play in the playoffs or championships, why not catch a game during the regular season? WELL why not make a week out of it???

HENCE we went south, and have one more day left of this adventure.

CAHOKIA

DUPO

HEYWORTH

BLUE RIDGE

NOTRE DAME

OAKVILLE

and tomorrow....Edwardsville and Bellville East can be added to the list!

STAY TUNED for all the top volleyball talk/action in the state!

GOSOUTH

Hello all,

Down here from lovely Southern Illinois! Last night was an adventure. Started off in Chicago and took off towards DUPO, IL. 4 and a half hours later, we are here and ready for interviews. After getting interviews from 4 of the Varsity girls on Dupo High School team. The game was ready to be played. Here we go Dupo vs. Cahokia!

Game 1, featured a game of bigs versus littles. Cahokia had the size, where Dupo had the finesse.For us, being in the Northern part of the state. We are used to an above the rim game, and a power game. Things started off slow but picked up towards the end of set 1. Cahokia ended up taking it in convincing fashion. Dupo made many mental mistakes and really shot themselves in the foot when it came down to the fundamentals.

Game 2, was a completely different story. Dupo came out on fire. Taking a 8-2 lead early. Cahokia was now the team that was making the mistakes and causing mental mistakes. Dupo was relentless in their attack with Junior middle Shannon Hood taking the lead, and the rest of her troops following suit. Dupo let it slip towards the end, but finished Cahokia off with a rally for the ages.

Game 3, yes game 3. Take both game 1 and game 2 into account and we have ourselves a true blue rivalry. Back and forth, back and forth. The game was all about a matter of inches. Cahokia now using more finesse, and Dupo going for more kills. Once again, Dupo was faltering. They made many mistakes that let Cahokia sneak away with a win in this non-conference battle of neighbors.

Tonight, we have Heyworth vs. Blue Ridge. Tune in tonight at 6pm as Dr. Pete and Kgriff89 (on twitter) have the call.

www.sportstownchicago.com WE ARE IN A LEAGUE OF OUR OWN!

Rosary High School @ Chicago Christian

Greetings from Sunny Palos Heights, Illinois! Intrepid reporters JoePitt and Alex in town for a match up featuring last years' state champion Chicago Christian Knights who welcomed the Rosary High School Royals.

It was sorta nice for me (Joe) as it was the first time I had seen the Knights since I started covering volleyball for SportsTownChicago. The Royals came out strong in both sets. The Knights hung in for the first set behind strong play from M. Kamp, B.DeRuiter, and J.Krysheld. Also, trading service errors for three straight points helped too. The great communication and precision passing from the Royals showed that in volleyball height and power can only take you halfway there as the Royals won set one 25-21.

Between sets Alex mentioned that central to a comeback would be communicating better. Well apparently the Royals were listening as they ran away with set number two 25-13. Outside hitter, senior A. Wegman won a unanimous decision as the player of the game as she was clearly and emphatically the most dominate player on the court tonight.

Coming up:

Tomorrow KGriff and I (JoePitt) will be at Jones College Prep as they welcome Kennedy High School.

ANNNNNNNND...I forget where Dr. Pete and ALo will be. So I apologize.

Till Tomorrow True Believers,

Mahalo

-JoePitt

I wish I had caught a freebie... Mother McAuley @ St. Francis

Last night Alex, myself, and new guy Luigi (no relation to Mario...I checked) were in sunny Wheaton, Illinois. Tonight marked the first night I got to call a game from a press box! OK, you caught me it was a balcony, or mezzanine, or something a few feet higher than the regular bleachers. It was also a very special night for us at SportsTownChicago as it was the one year anniversary of our stations coverage of girls H.S. volleyball.

The gymnasium was bustling as a crowd gathered to obviously recognize this achievement and watch some v-ball. The home team St. Francis "Spartans" put on quite a show for what, again I assume, was our broadcast team. A live pep band...and not your normal pep band either! A full on rock band complete with full drum kit, three vocalists, 2 guitars, and a partridge in a pear tree. I think there was a bassist; seriously though, who cares about the bassist...I know Alex doesn't. Wouldn't stop talking about his hatred for them. And since he isn't here to defend himself direct angry comments to him. During the team intro the "Spartans" even threw t-shirts and mini volleyballs to the crowd.

The Mother McAuley "Mighty Macs" were in town for a non conference match up featuring all you would expect from two top tier teams; say that five times fast. And fast is what we got! Both teams came out swingin' trading points and, admittedly a few errors. G. Churney and H. Gable for St. Francis were responsible for keeping St. Francis in it with some punishing blows. Breaking through the walls, roofs, and any other block you could think of. Alas, the speed of the "Macs" won out and they took set one 25-20.

Set two started out with the "Macs" leading the race. D. Wise of the "Spartans" would have none of it though. Bringing her team back. Sadly on this night when the effort put forth would have been enough, it was not to be. Set two went to the "Macs" again to the tune of 25-20.

A split decision in the press box, or balcony (pfft...let a man dream) led us to a very rare occurrence. TWO players of the game! R. Arundel and L. Scanlon. Both ladies exhibiting the skill we love to see and the determination to not give in to a rallying opponent. Big kills late in each set didn't hurt either...

So there you have it Mother McAuley wins in 2. A pep Rock Band playing Bon Jovi. Alex hates bassists. We welcome Luigi (or Lou to his friends...he asked us to call him Luigi). And I didn't get a freebie. A spectacular night.

Bookmark us so you can follow our sweet action volleyball adventures here at SportsTownChicago

Till next time True Believers,
Mahalo
-JoePitt