The Glenbard East boys volleyball team completed its season with a narrow three-game loss to Bolingbrook in a semifinal match at the IHSA Hinsdale South Sectional on Saturday, May 30. Bolingbrook edged the Rams 26-24, 19-25, 25-21 in the post-season battle, which took place in front of loud and enthusiastic supporters for both teams.
Glenbard East reached the sectional semifinal after winning three post-season matches and earning the program’s first regional championship since 2015. The Rams began the post-season with a 25-15, 25-14 home win over Montini Catholic in a quarterfinal contest that was part of the Oswego East Regional. On Tuesday, May 26, the Rams edged Joliet Catholic 23-25, 25-16, 25-21 in a regional semifinal in Oswego. Two days later, Glenbard East beat Plainfield North 25-23, 25-23 in the regional final.
Glenbard East, which finished its season with a 25-14 record, was the Hinsdale South Sectional’s No. 7 seed. Plainfield North was the sectional’s No. 2 seed.
The Rams led Bolingbrook—the sectional’s No. 3 seed—23-22 late in the first game of Saturday’s sectional semifinal. The Raiders won the next two points to take a 24-23 lead. Glenbard East won the next point before Bolingbrook won two straight points to capture the first game.
The Rams and Bolingbrook were tied at 12-12 in the second game. Glenbard East went on a run to build a 20-15 lead on its way to winning the second game.
A great block from senior Nate Lynch provided a winning point that gave the Rams a 12-9 lead in the decisive third game. Glenbard East held a 13-10 lead, but Bolingbrook evened the score at 17-17. The Raiders won the next three points to take a 20-17 lead. The Rams failed to put two serves in play late in the game; one serve went into the net to help Bolingbrook to a 21-18 lead. The match ended after a Glenbard East serve sailed beyond the back line.
“Momentum is a huge thing,” said Glenbard East coach Bradley Cardott after the loss to Bolingbrook. “They [the Raiders] made the plays when they needed to.”
Senior Gabe Polyak bashed 14 kills and made eight digs for the Rams during the sectional semifinal against the Raiders. Sophomore Max Waldschmidt provided 11 kills, while Lynch supplied 10 kills. Sophomore Cole Smith handed out 41 assists, and senior Jake Hayes made 12 digs. Senior Jackson Yates contributed six kills for Glenbard East. Senior Michael Hoffmann added three kills and four blocks.
Bolingbrook advanced to the sectional final with its win over the Rams. The Raiders faced the sectional’s No. 1 seed—Glenbard West—in the sectional final earlier this week. The winner advanced to the state quarterfinals, which will be contested this week at Bolingbrook High School.
