‘Electric’: Giants, Warriors take things outside in groundbreaking match

An incoming rival always draws extra motivation. But when an in-district foe pays you a visit with history serving as the game’s backdrop, the moment becomes unforgettable.

And how about a win to boot.

The Highland Park Giants delivered a commanding performance to top their District 113 counterparts, the Deerfield Warriors, on Friday, May 8, at Wolters Field during the school’s first-ever outdoor volleyball match.

After Deerfield jumped out to an early lead in the first set, the Giants took control of the match en route to a 25-21, 25-18 victory and fitting finish to the memorable evening.

A comeback win over your rival is certainly satisfying, but Highland Park players and coaches cherished the game’s unique and historic setting just as much.

“It was an electric environment,” Giants senior Jonathan DeMarco said. “I’ve never felt anything like it. … The energy on the court tonight is unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced playing volleyball.”

Senior outside hitter Andrew Nikolakakis described playing on Wolters Field as a “surreal” feeling and said he was “astonished” by the match’s setting.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, the first ever in program history, so that makes it that much more special,” Nikolakakis said.

Highland Park head coach Jenna Hotwagner said that last fall she pitched the idea of an outdoor match to Athletic Director Mark Ribbens.

Ribbens reportedly jumped on board, and Hotwagner went to work from there. She started talking to other schools that had hosted outdoor matches and began fleshing out the logistics for the match.

And although there were challenges, and uncertainty, early, once the match details were set, the game quickly became an eagerly anticipated part of the Giants’ season.

“I didn’t really think we were going to pull it off, so it was awesome to see this happen,” Hotwagner said. “We’ve been excited about it all year and to be able to do it against Deerfield has been something that they’ve all been looking forward to.”

Highland Park players and coaches started setting up the court Thursday night and worked almost all day Friday to finish preparations for the match.

The outdoor conditions, particularly the wind, required some adjustments in the early going, but the Giants found their rhythm midway through the first set.

Deerfield set the tone by taking a 7-3 lead in Set 1, but from there, Highland Park outpaced the Warriors by a 22-14 margin.

A trio of kills from DeMarco and Santiago Bonfranceschi — as well a key block from Bonfranceschi — leveled the score. The Giants pushed out to a four-point lead at 18-14 and weathered a brief storm from the Warriors, who brought the game to within one point at 21-20.

Highland Park then scored four of the last five points to finish off the set.

“We have struggled with responding all season and for them to show up and not get rattled by that (early Deerfield lead), especially with battling the elements and all of that too, I think to say I’m proud is an understatement,” Hotwagner said.

The second set served as quite the role reversal for the Giants, who jumped out to their own 7-3 lead over the Warriors.

Deerfield at one point was able to trim the margin to just two points, but the Giants never let the Warriors closer than that.

Highland Park’s victory also avenged a recent loss to the Warriors that came during tournament play. On Friday night, the Giants were able to flip the script in part due to a different level of energy.

“We came out with more energy tonight, 100 percent,” DeMarco said. “We knew we were the better team last time; we just died on our energy. This time, we were pumped up, ready to play the first outdoor game in Highland Park history and were just ready to rock and roll.”

Prior to Friday’s victory, the Giants had dropped four of their last five matches. A showdown with a rival paired with the Wolters Field match made for the perfect combination to snap out of that funk.

“Obviously against a crosstown rival in Deerfield, everyone is always feisty,” Nikolakakis said. “There is always some barking. When there’s barking, there’s biting and we did a lot of biting today and I’m very proud of the team.”

Now, at 13-16 as of Monday, May 11, the Giants head into a big opportunity to make up ground: four straight Central Suburban League North contests.

And the team is heading into the stretch as focused as ever.

“Our mindset is going to have to stay focused — stay focused in practice and stay focused in games, no matter who we are playing,” Bonfranceschi said.

The Giants even feel like Friday’s conquest was a testament to the team’s potential and what it can accomplish moving forward.

“We’re a very tough opponent,” Nikolakakis said. “We’ll scratch back and we’re not afraid to fight. We love to scrap, we love the energy, we love all of it.”

“This game showed everyone exactly who we are, especially in higher-caliber games,” he added.

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