Reavis' Interior Size Dooms Lemont Volleyball

The Lemont boys volleyball team is about to close the books on its first four-year cycle.

Growing pains are still evident in the nascent program, but the Indians are showing signs of maturation even after their straight-sets loss to Reavis Thursday night at home.

“I tell you what, Lemont has surprised me the last four years,” Reavis coach Bob Wielgos said after the Rams captured identical 25-18 games for the South Suburban victory.

“They’re going to be a force to reckon with down the road.”

“Last year we scored only 12 points the entire match against (Reavis),” Lemont coach David Heller said.

Unfortunately for Lemont, Reavis seized control of the first game by scoring 13 of the first 17 points out of the gate.

Kevin Leadley was in the program at its launch date three years ago, and the Indians’ senior orchestrated the offense with 17 assists and a pair of kills.

But the Indians had entirely too many hitting mistakes, and collaborations early on proved rare.

“We struggle with passing, for sure,” Leadley said.

The Indians’ inability to score at their offensive end — the vast majority of early points came via Reavis hitting errors — was compounded by the Rams’ interior size.

“They’re such a tall block,” Lemont senior Jeff Gurrister said of the Rams’ formidable front line. “We couldn’t get any kills over it (early in the first game).”

Leadley had the Indians’ initial service point to bring Lemont within seven, but another extended Reavis run to proclaim match point with the Indians stuck on 13.

But in sign of things to come, Lemont (7-13 overall, 3-8 in the league) finally showed signs of life.

Ryan Leadley, the younger brother of Kevin, had a pair of kills to stave off two game points.

Mike Donnelly added a block-kill around a Mike Krueger ace.

Chris Rusznica, who would torment Lemont throughout the second game, ended the Krueger service run with a game-clinching kill.

“Our passing difficulties and inexperience got us (behind) early,” Heller said. “We’re a really young team. Volleyball is such a game of momentum.”

The second game was a virtual replica of first, but in reverse order.

Lemont was competitive early, ultimately forging nine ties with the Rams (11-11, 8-3).

Gurrister, who led both sides with eight kills, was able to find more creases in Reavis’ defense.

Conversely, Lemont dramatically reduced its passing miscues.

Greg Husa knotted the match for the last time at 15-15 with an ace for Lemont.

But several costly physical and mental errors enabled Reavis to sweep the Indians with a 10-3 match-closing run.

“We didn’t do what we did in the first set and make a strong run at the end,” Heller said.