Defense, Precision Keys Spartans' Victory over Rival Titans

After trailing by six and four points in the first and third game respectively, Glenbrook North's defense sparked a pair of rallies, leading the Spartans (8-3) past rival Glenbrook South (25-22, 24-26, 25-22) on Friday night at the Titan Dome in Glenview. Junior Luke Jacobson led GBN with 10 kills, none of which were bigger than the back-to-back points that tied the third game at 21-21 and then gave the Spartans a lead they would not relinquish.

"Luke really stepped up for us tonight - this is the first time we've had a middle-hitter lead us in kills this year," said GBN head coach, Chris Cooper. "What we tried to realize was that even though they're big, if we hit smart and get it past their block, they're going to struggle."

Despite the Titans' size-advantage with two blockers standing taller than 6-foot-9, Jacobson, just 6-foot-4, was able to time his kills and pick apart South's defense throughout the contest.

"I knew that they would put up a big block but they wouldn't be able to take out spots on the floor," Jacobson said. "Some of the easier shots, touch shots, I was able to get kills and we took advantage of it."

GBN, which finished third at the Buffalo Grove Invite to start its 2011 campaign, followed up with a trip through the Gold Bracket at Wheaton Warrenville South's Tiger Classic last weekend; the Spartans would fall to state-contenders Lincoln-Way East and Buffalo Grove in its final two matches. Without having to worry about a tournament setting on Friday, however, Glenbrook North had plenty of energy which keyed their momentum through all three games against the Titans (6-3).

"This was our first single-match, our first match with a big crowd and a lot of excitement, and it was good to see how our team handled it," Cooper said. "One thing we've been stressing this year is finishing matches strong and even in the game that we lost tonight, I think we finished strong, we just didn't pull it out."

The Spartans are not going to overpower opponents, nor nor will they outsize everyone they come across (that was apparent on Friday). But the Spartans' communication and consistent defense has them poised to make another run through both the Central Suburban League and the IHSA State Playoffs.

"We're such a good team defensively that our ball control can take us really far - other teams don't have the passing that we have," said senior Libero Connor Bolan. "This team is definitely capable of making a run to state."

It may be early, and the Spartans are going to have to get past the likes of New Trier and Brother Rice, both of whom visit GBN later this season, but Chris Cooper agrees with his Libero.

"It's going to be a battle," he said, "but there's no reason not to think that we can be a state caliber team."

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GLENBROOK NORTH

25

24

25

GLENBROOK SOUTH

22

26

22