The Oak Park-River Forest boys volleyball team prevailed in three sets over Sandburg — 22-25, 25-19, 25-21 — on May 25 to advance to the Sandburg Sectional final, May 28 (after press time), against Lyons Township.
The Huskies (25-9) had advanced to Sandburg with a victory in the Fenwick Regional final on May 23, 25-11, 25-20, over Hinsdale Central.
“I thought our boys executed at a high level,” said OPRF coach Justin Cousin. “Hinsdale Central is not a bad team and we knew they were going to give us a fight. But I thought the boys were composed and worked as a team against adversity.”
Senior middle hitter Roan Doody had an impressive night with a .769 hitting percentage. That was the result of strong chemistry with classmate and setter Quinn Bozarth, who assisted Doody on multiple kills, especially down the stretch.
“He’s a high-level player,” Doody said of Bozarth. “Building our chemistry on and off the court has really helped as our connection has gotten better.”
“We’ve been practicing difficult situations setting for our middles, and it showed today,” Bozarth said.
The Huskies defeated LT in a close match earlier this season, so they’re anticipating another strong challenge from the Lions, last year’s state runner-up.
“We’re going to do everything we can to prepare for them,” Bozarth said. “I know we can beat [LT].”
Regional title for OPRF softball
OPRF softball rolled past Niles West 11-1, May 23, to win the Class 4A Niles West Regional. A seven-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth gave the run-rule victory for the Huskies (27-8).
“We haven’t had an offensive explosion in a while, and that was nice to see,” said OPRF coach J.P. Coughlin. “We hit the ball hard all game, and I knew it was a matter of time.”
Anna Topel pitched a complete game, allowing a run on six hits and posting nine strikeouts over six innings. She also starred at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a solo homer and RBI triple.
“Anna’s been awesome for us all year,” Coughlin said. “There was a bit of an adjustment period when we lost Jordan [Alioto], who was supposed to be our ace, to injury. But once Anna beat Marist, which was #1 at the time, that gave her confidence.”
Gloria Hronek had three hits and Tyler Brock, Rachel Buchta, and Elyssa Hasapis two apiece for OPRF, while Sofia Ayala and Maura Carmody each had two RBI.
The Huskies faced Taft in a sectional semifinal at Maine South, May 28 (after deadline). A victory would result in advancement to the sectional title game, May 31, versus either Leyden Township or Whitney Young.
“We need to keep making plays and stay confident and loose,” Coughlin said. “We don’t have the All-Americans Mel (Kolbusz, retired OPRF coach) had, but we’re deep.”