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Sports

Broncos' Comeback Falls Short

Barrington loses Regional Championship game to Libertyville 2-1.

The dig is a volleyball technique that the Broncos are good at. Unfortunately, they were not able to dig themselves out of a hole they were in during the crucial third set of their regional championship game against Libertyville and eventually lost 2-1.

“I was really proud of them tonight, especially the way they played in that third match,” Barrington’s coach Rob Ridenour said following Barrington’s two sets to one loss to the Wildcats. 

“We had to ask for a towel (to wipe-up sweat) like four times tonight” Ridenour went on to say.  “We were flying all over the place (diving after balls) and you can’t ask for anything more than that.”

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Playing as the second seed in the Gurnee Sectional, Barrington set-up their Mundelein regional match against the Wildcats by defeating Lake Zurich (25-17, 25-17) on Tuesday and built on that momentum by taking the first set against Libertyville on Wednesday, May 25.

During the opening set of the championship match the two teams played point-for-point with neither team really able to sustain a long rally.  Barrington saw the match’s first real lead at 20-17 that forced Libertyville to call a timeout.  The Wildcats were unable to mount any sort of comeback and dropped the match 25-22.

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The second set would begin very similar to the first, with both teams battling back and forth for points; yet this time Barrington was unable to get the edge on the Wildcats who would lead the entire second match and win 25-17.

With the two teams splitting the opening sets, Barrington was able to take the first point in the deciding third match, their first lead since winning the first set.  However, it would be their only lead as Libertyville’s senior Eric Handrich went on a serving streak that propelled the Wildcats to a 7-1 lead forcing Ridenour to call a timeout.  The outside hitter Handrich would end the night with one ace 16 digs and nine kills.

“I told them to just be themselves,” Ridenour told the team during the timeout. “We were thinking a little too much out there.”

Following the timeout Barrington’s Taylor Ganzer (28 assists, 4 kills) would get a couple points back via the serve that left the Broncos looking at a 9-4 deficit.  But moments later the Wildcats tacked on a few more points and pushed their lead to 12-4.

That was when the Broncos would begin to chip away.  A point here; a few points there, but Barrington was never able to capture any real momentum and sustain long periods of scoring, yet found themselves only down 16-12 when Libertyville’s coach Steve Rochon called a timeout.

Not much would change after the timeout as senior Matt Logue started a series of jump serves that helped pull the Broncos to within one point at 17-18 and saw the Wildcats call another timeout.  Logue had three aces, two blocks and lead both teams in kills with 12.

“Matt led us back with some great serving,” Ridenour said of his outside hitter committed to Carthage College next year.  “He was unbelievable in that stretch making them side out.”

However, Libertyville would not relinquish the lead and stopped the surging Broncos.  The Wildcats maintained their composure and secured the third match victory 25-22 to capture the Mundelein Regional championship with their 2-1 victory.

“Libertyville played unbelievable well tonight,” Ridenour said following the match.  “All the credit goes to them.”

Rochon was giving the credit to his defense.

“That was the best defense I have seen from these guys in a long time,” he said.  “Barrington is ranked second in the sectional for a reason.”

Bronco Notables:

Kills: Junior Tommy Leonard 8, senior TJ Shanahan 4

Blocks: Sophomore Peter Van Fossan 3, Shanahan 3

Digs: Junior Austin Czarnecki 24

Aces: Junior Jeff Hochstein 1

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