Boys Volleyball: Matt Molnar’s monster match powers Downers Grove South to third place at state

HOFFMAN ESTATES – For Downers Grove South senior outside hitter Matt Molnar, the start of the third-place match June 4 at the boys volleyball state tournament at Hoffman Estates was a bit wobbly.

“We seemed to be groggy,” the 6-foot-7 Molnar said. “But then, in time, we realized the importance of the match and played much better.”

[ Photos: Downers Grove South vs. Libertyville ]

Wobbly turned into stable. Downers South defeated tourney upstart and first-time finals qualifier Libertyville 25-22, 23-25, 25-20 to take the bronze and earn the program’s second state trophy.

The McKendree University-bound Molnar pummeled a match-high 17 kills while hitting at a .429 clip several hours after the Mustangs searched in vain for a shred of rhythm in a 25-17, 25-16 semifinal loss to eventual state runner-up Lincoln-Way East.

“Much better,” said Mustangs coach Kurt Steuer, who guided Downers South to the state championship in 2013. “Not as flat as we were in our semifinal. I’m proud of the way we handled the third set.

“What an accomplishment,” he added. “To finish in third place in Illinois, with teams as competitive as they are in this state, I’ll take it.”

The Mustangs (35-6) took an 8-7 first-set lead on a kill by senior outside hitter Ryan Blazevich in a back-and-forth start. Neither squad enjoyed an advantage better than two points in the set until the final point – an ace delivered by junior middle Mason Kolar (five kills, three blocks).

Libertyville (22-15) stretched its lead to 16-8 in the second set on a block by 6-8 senior middle Chase Bonder (five kills, three blocks). Downers South battled and knotted the set at 21-21 and 22-22 before Libertyville got a kill from senior outside hitter Patrick Akers (eight kills) to go up 23-22.

Wildcats junior setter Luis Correa (15 assists) picked a fine time to go in attack mode, notching his only kill to clinch the second set.

Molnar came up huge late in the third set, registering three kills in a four-point span. His final kill in the stretch secured a 19-16 lead for Downers South.

“He’s special, right up there (among the all-time greats at Downers South),” Steuer said of Molnar.

The Mustangs’ Nick Koch (18 assists) and Colin Mason (14) shared setting duties. Max Barbeau paced the victors in digs (10), while 6-2 senior middle Declan Mulcahey and classmate Alex Johnson popped for three blocks apiece.

Johnson and Brannen Almarales each had five kills.

Libertyville got nine kills from Oliver Sikora and eight from Patrick Akers. Aleks Slesers struck five kills and bumped a team-high nine digs. Six-foot-7 senior middle Mack Imm was a nuisance near the net with five blocks.

Libertyville bowed to eventual champion Glenbard West 25-21, 25-13 in the first semifinal Saturday morning.

“They were outstanding,” Glenbard West coach Christine Giunta-Mayer said of the Wildcats, who lost six of eight matches late in the season before peaking in a memorable postseason run. “We knew they would be. That’s a team we saw earlier this season and thought, ‘They’re coming. ... That’s a sleeping giant.’

“It was only a matter of time,” she added.

“Libertyville has really good chemistry,” Glenbard West setter Trevor Powell said. “Super positive, too. If anyone made a mistake, he shrugged it off.”

https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20220604/boys-volleyball-downers-grove-south-finishes-strong-tops-libertyville-for-3rd-in-state?cid=search