Volleyball set(s) for final championship push
By Woody Hines

  Despite a lackluster 2-3 record at last weekend’s Richard’s Invitational, the Boys’ volleyball team remains confident and excited about their chances at winning the state championship for the first time since their only state victory in 1995.
  “For New Trier who wins so many state championships, it’s rare to find a sport where we’ve only won once,” outside hitter Will Hart said.
  At the beginning of the year, several newspapers pre-ranked New Trier at No. 1, and the team has been in the top five for much of the season. Newspapers touted the team for having at least seven players above 6 foot 5, whereas they had only three or four at that height in 1995.
  Beyond the media hype, the team has a group of several highly talented seniors, three of whom are signing with Division-1 colleges for volleyball. Ted Garard plans to attend Ball State University and Chaz Hindsley will attend Pacific University. Jack Polales plans to go to UCLA, the 2006 NCAA men’s volleyball champions.
  “It’s really rare to have that much talent. This is the most talented volleyball team NT has seen in a long time,” Hart said.
  “Having this much talent makes state a major possibility,” junior Justin Mozer said.
  Outside of tournaments, the team has suffered only one loss, Mozer said. This week marks the team’s final week of regular season play, before entering the postseason and the race for the state championship. They will face Evanston and Glenbrook South.
  Season highlights range from several game winning streaks to winning the Downers Grove South Invitational, a highly competitive tournament.
  Players agree that one of the primary factors influencing their success is an abundance of team chemistry.
  “We’re all really good friends. We have carb fests during the week, we hang out as a group. It’s not just a team, but it’s also a group with relationships beyond sports,” Hart said.
  “It’s a great group of guys. I’m really getting along with all the seniors,” Mozer said.
  Players concede that there is a certain amount of pressure to perform amid all the buildup and auspicious victories.
  “Part of the problem has been that we have the expectation to do well. There have been times when we’ve won 8 or 9 games in a row and become overconfident and lost,” Hart said.
  After one winning streak, the team lost to GBN. In the first tournament, after learning of their high pre-rankings, the team lost two games and got fourth at the invitational where no teams were ranked in the top ten. “All of these have been big wake-up calls,” Hart said.
  Last weekend’s loss was a reminder to stay focused, but the team believes their performance is not representative of their potential as a team.
  “This is not an accurate judge of how good we are,” Mozer said.
  Matt Hutter, a setter and team captain has suffered injuries and been out for much of the past week. Accordingly, he could not attend the tournament.
  “He’s a captain and one of the key leaders on the team,” Hart said.
  Juniors Sean Lee and Alex Nuccio filled in for Hutter. “It’s a lot to ask of them to fill his shoes. They did a great job, but the setter is like the quarterback of volleyball, so it is difficult to change things up and keep things flowing the right way,” Hart said.
  “Not that anyone is less crucial to the team, but Matt adds so much,” Hart added.
  On the first day of the tournament, they won one game and lost to Downers Grove North. On the second day, they lost to Wheaton Warrenville South and again to Downers Grove North. Wheaton Warrenville is one of the top teams in state, but New Trier beat them in a prior tournament with relative ease.
  Most of the pressure comes from themselves. Coach Sue Haak is primarily focused on the team playing to the best of their ability.
  “We’re not going to settle for being told we’re the best. We want to practice and prove ourselves we can beat any team,” Hart said.
  Headed into the final week and the postseason run, the team is assured of their ability. Hart said, “When we play at the best of our ability we can beat any team in the state.”