New Trier looks for a new way without star outside hitter

In a match with Maine South on Tuesday, New Trier volleyball was consistently down — and not just on the scoreboard.

The important league match was one of the Trevians’ first without standout senior Oliver Potterfield, an All-State talent and New Trier’s top offensive weapon who is likely out for the season with a knee injury sustained on Saturday, April 25.

Even without Potterfield, New Trier (12-7, 4-1 in CSL South) fought to the finish against the potent Hawks (15-2, 4-1) on Tuesday in Winnetka, coming up short 25-20, 23-25, 25-21. The Trevians, Hawks and Titans of Glenbrook South are all tied atop the division at 4-1.

“We made a lot of mistakes early tonight, but after that were neck and neck the whole game,” Trevians coach Sue Ellen Haak said. “I walk away feeling kind of positive.”

Maine South quickly put New Trier in a hole in the first set, taking a 9-4 advantage.

The Trevians fought back, and a Sean Scheppach ace tied things at 16-16.

From there, however, Maine South took and held onto a lead on the way to a 25-20 win.

In Set 2, New Trier mixed up its attack a bit more to catalyze a near wire-to-wire victory.

Senior Michael Ryan’s three kills mid-set helped push his team’s lead to five, 16-11, and Grantas Vasiliauskas finished off the 25-23 win with one of his nine kills.

New Trier’s momentum didn’t last, though, and Maine South started the final set with a 5-0 run.

Though the Trevians hung in, a 9-2 Hawks’ spurt made it a 20-12 game late.

“Our passing sort of broke down and our blocking as well,” Ryan said. “If we clean up those two things, we can stop those runs.”

A final Trevians surge came up short in the 25-21 loss.

Nathaniel Potterfield finished with nine kills, and Ryan had five plus a block. Colin Kim passed out 18 assists and Scheppach 13 with a pair of aces. Junior libero Trevor Chung racked up 17 digs.

New Trier, though, was optimistic post game.

“We’re getting better every day,” Ryan said. “We just lost one of our best players and we’re finding a new identity without him.” 

With Oliver Potterfield out, Vasiliauskas has moved over from this right-side position to fill the spot on the outside. Ryan has transitioned from middle to right side, and Charlie Logue has filled the open middle position.

The new look — which also features senior Nathanial Potterfield on the outside, setters Kim and Scheppach, and middle Keefer Baxter — is still finding its way, Haak said.

“We need a little time to settle in, but they really are a collective force,” she said, explaining that Oliver Potterfield’s heavy share of sets is being reallocated to multiple attackers.

“We’re right there,” Haak added. “We just have to find our groove a little bit and get comfortable and get confident and not think so much on the court — just play. I have great hope for this team. … I think we’re going to chip away at this over the next month and will get exactly where we need to be.”

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