Potterfield leads Trevians’ third-set response in regional-championship triumph

New Trier volleyball junior Oliver Potterfield is often the Trevians’ top offensive option.

But in high-leverage moments, instead of asking for the ball:

“I’m asking for the setters to make the best choice. Whatever that is, I hope they make it,” he said. “Obviously as a player I want the ball in that scenario but I want what’s best for the team.”

A reward for his selflessness, Potterfield got everything he wanted in the pivotal moments of an IHSA regional-championship match against Mundelein on Thursday, May 29, in Winnetka.

In the third set, Potterfield smacked three straight kills to turn the game around (from 10-9 Mustangs to 12-10 Trevians) and pounded two more for the exclamation points in New Trier’s 25-19, 20-25, 25-19 regional-title win.

The junior, who tallied a match-high 15 kills, said the key to his team’s Set 3 response was greater than his efforts.

“It’s a great group of guys; I can’t stress that enough,” Potterfield said. “We just have this chemistry. I’ve never been on a team that’s this connected, so we just looked around each other and just played for each other. That’s what happened out there. We just looked to our left, looked to our right. … I couldn’t be prouder of the guys — really a team effort.”

The No. 3 seed in the Barrington Sectional, New Trier (25-10) controlled the first set against No. 5 Mundelein (29-5).

The Mustangs threatened late, closing to within two points (20-18), but the Trevians responded with a 3-0 run to put the set away.

Mundelein offered its response midway through the second set, turning a tie game into a 20-15 advantage. New Trier could not recover, as the Mustangs drew even.

Potterfield’s attacking turned the tides on the scoreboard in the third set, but New Trier coach Sue Ellen Haak made sure to credit her team’s defense, especially at the net, as well.

“I love to see them rally after losing a set,” said Haak, who in the third set inserted junior middle Michael Ryan to shore up her team’s block. “Our blockers were hungry. Defense helped us today. Defense fed our offense.”

Senior middle James Hayek got it done both ways.

Hayek tallied 13 kills and three blocks during a stellar performance that Haak said was emblematic of how far he’s come.

“James has become a total beast,” she said. “Day after day he just gets better and better. He’s so strong. Teams are following him with double blocks and he’s still scoring on them. He is locked in all the times.

“… Whether it’s front row, back row, he just takes care of business all over the place. James has surpassed my wildest expectations.”

Trevians senior Charlie Tinsley chipped in 8 kills and Grantas Vasiliauskas 6. Senior libero Keenan Roderick racked up 21 digs, while setters Colin Kim and Sean Scheppach passed out 25 and 15 assists, respectively.

New Trier advances to sectional play where they will take on the sectional’s second seed, Lake Zurich, which bested Glenbrook South in a three-set match Thursday. The Trevians dropped a three-set contest to the Bears on May 19.

Haak said the Trevians are nearly whole, a rare status in a season filled with injury and illness. Though senior leader Joseph Jackier remains sidelined, New Trier is “on the way up” with a lineup full of players that have seen a lot of court time, coach said.

“We’ve almost had a different lineup every match, so we’re going into the state tournament with a lot of experience … so that’s a strength,” Haak said. “We’re set and we’re ready right now. It’s just taken us a while to get here. It’s been a bumpy ride but it’s made us stronger for it.”

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