Boys Volleyball: Sandburg Takes Down State Champ Marist

If you're a Sandburg fan and the name of Marist coach Bob St. Leger rings a bell, it should. St. Leger is a 2000 graduate of Sandburg High School and played on two back-to-back state championship boys' volleyball teams (1999 and 2000).

St. Leger brought his defending state champion Marist RedHawks into his alma mater for the Class 3A Sectional championship match on Tuesday night. But the Eagles sent him home disappointed.

Sandburg swept past Marist in two straight games (25-23, 25-16). Game 1 was tied eight times, including as late as 17-17.  Then, the Eagles staged a four-point rally to build a 21-17 margin. Marist drew as close as  24-23 before Sanburg's Andrew Muys dropped down the game-winning block.

In Game 2, Sandburg carried the momentum from Muys' block and jumped out to an 8-1 lead. The RedHawks never were able to inch back as the Eagles extended their lead to eight points and finally won by nine, 25-16.

"We felt if we could have gotten that first game, we would have had a nice chance and it was there for the taking," St. Leger said. "We were one play away from it being a big change in Game 1. We have no shame at all. Our seniors had 38 wins and 33 wins. We played (hard) and we lost to a better team."

Sandburg's Tommy Carmody led the Eagles with eight blocks. Scott Fifer racked up 19 assists. Muys finished with eight kills. Bill Siroky chipped in seven kills.

Marist was led by Kevin Morrison with six kills. Garrett Dempsey had 15 assists for the RedHawks.

"It doesn't matter how much talent we have or how much talent they have," Sandburg coach Sean Airola said. "We're going to give it our best. They played with us. They did a nice job overall."

Next, Sandburg will face New Trier in the IHSA state quarterfinals at 6 p.m. on Friday at Hoffman Estates High School. New Trier put away Glenbrook North 25-19, 25-22 to take the Niles North Sectional.

"We beat New Trier twice in tournaments this year," Airola said. "Once 25-22, 25-21 at the Tiger tournament and then later was 25-19, 25-18. They are a tough team and a big team and to play Glenbrook North like they did, that shows they're ready."