Buffalo Grove proves to be too much for Palatine

The Bison utilized their depth and skill to defeat the Pirates in the sectional semifinals.

Published By John Juettner on 5/28/2010

Lukas Karch (5) and Buffalo Grove are moving on to the sectional finals.
Story and Photos By: John Juettner
      Buffalo Grove’s boys’ volleyball team has a lot of talent and a lot of depth. The Bison are tall, athletic, skilled and quite dangerous when they are playing well.
      And Friday night against Palatine in the Class 4A boys’ volleyball sectional semifinal on the Pirates’ home court, Buffalo Grove was playing about as good as a team can en route to a 25-19, 25-14 victory.
      “If we’re passing the ball, we’re unbeatable. Period,” Buffalo Grove coach Matt Aiello said. “That sounds like an arrogant comment. But when we’re passing the ball, no one can stop our offense. I’ve got five guys on the court who can get a kill at any time. So trying to stop us is very difficult. But we’ve got to play defense. That’s what we work on, and that’s what the guys take pride in.”
      The leader of the potent Buffalo Grove attack is senior Nick Baronti, who along with junior Chris Shanahan, and senior Mike Jambrone, proved to be too much for the Pirates by routinely scoring kills and blocking the Pirates attack.
      “I think that is the best I’ve seen them play,” Palatine coach Frank Stark said. “You can tell they are getting ready for the big games.”
      The Pirates held a 15-14 lead in game one, but Buffalo Grove scored the next six points to take a commanding 20-15 lead.
      “We knew Palatine was a good team,” Aiello said. “We knew they were going be able to go on runs. When they are serving well, they get a lot of momentum because they are able to run their offense then, because we are out of our rotation. But the guys relaxed, and instead of freaking out about it they literally smiled and said, ‘We’ll just get the next one.’”
      Baronti said the Bison just had to respond to what Palatine brought in the first half of the first game.
      “If they come out with runs, we just have to come back play harder,” Baronti said.
      Buffalo Grove junior setter Lukas Karch was instrumental for making the Bison offense run by getting the ball to Baronti, Shanahan and Jambrone.
      Palatine played tough, though. The Pirates never gave up. Seniors Nat Pearson, Sash Patel, Adam Hebien, Colin Williams and Pat O’Shea made their coach proud.
      “I can’t be happier with my group of guys,” Stark said of a team that had the second best season in Palatine boys’ volleyball history. “I feel that we went out there and gave it everything we could. Like I always say, we just have phenomenal kids. Just great kids. You can’t ask for anything more as a coach.”

Palatine’s Nat Pearson (24) waits for play to resume against Buffalo Grove Friday night.

Buffalo Grove’s Lukas Karch readies to play defense before Palatine serves.

Palatine sophomore Kevin O’Shea (30) subs out of the match for Palatine junior Pat Moran (19).