Hyped Loyola downs New Trier in volleyball regional finale

Loyola Academy rode waves of energy to a two-set regional final win over rival New Trier on Thursday in Wilmette.

The back-row passers fed the Ramblers Aldis Kins. Kins fed the hitters from the front, back and outside. The Ramblers hitters in turn feasted in a 25-17, 25-23 victory over the Trevians (22-14) to advance to sectional play, which begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 29, in Winnetka.

Time and again Loyola’s Luke Malles, Drew Bevan, Charlie Trapp and others wore their emotion on their sleeves after big moments in the first set.

“We tend to be quieter,” Ramblers coach Lionel Ebeling said, “but we made it a focus this week to have high energy in practice, a lot of talking even when it’s a little uncomfortable, so when we get into those tense moments, everything feels natural.”

The Ramblers (27-11), the third seed in the New Trier Sectional, move on to face No. 18 Glenbrook North, which has sprung seed upsets, including over No. 2 Glenbrook South, in three straight postseason matches.

Against New Trier on Thursday, Loyola Academy senior outside hitter Drew Bevan put away one of a handful of first-set kills to give the Ramblers a 20-15 lead after the Trevians had trimmed Loyola’s early eight-point lead.

Bevan led all hitters with 10 kills, constantly keeping the energy on Loyola Academy’s side.

“We’ve had a lot of energy shifts throughout the year and I think the key is just next-ball mentality,” said Kins, a George Mason volleyball commit. “Shoutout to our bench. Our bench did a pretty good job … lifting us up.”

The Ramblers jumped far ahead in the second set as well, going up 10-2 on the heels of steady play from a number of Ramblers.

“We talked about getting off to a great start,” Kins said. “Having confidence, knowing that if we play our game, focus on our side of the ball … it’ll continue to be great. We just came out with confidence. Passers did a great job getting the ball to me.”

Kins continued to feed his teammates the ball after consistent and often concise first touches that put the Ramblers in-system.

The Trevians drew closer as the second set wore on and had the set tied at 22-22 and 23-23.

The Ramblers Michael Eiben, a 6-foot-6 junior middle, had several big touches at the net to enable the Ramblers’ 24th point, which came to a close on a Bevan kill.

The Ramblers then put the match away on the next point.

“It’s really just about heart, effort and trusting your teammates that they’re going to get a good second touch and third touch,” Ebeling said.

The loss ended what was at times a messy, albeit competitive season for the Trevians. Coach Sue Ellen Haak mentioned numerous positive responses from players in the midst of injury, including to star player Oliver Potterfield; illness; and uncontrollable misfortune.

“We’ve had a tumultous season,” Haak said. “A lot of injuries, a lot of illness, a lot of lineups. Really proud of our guys because we had so many different players who can hop in the game and contribute.”

Colin Kim finished with 10 assists and 6 digs for the Trevians. Nathaniel Potterfield chipped in five kills as did Grantas Vasiliauskas. Trevor Chung recorded seven digs.

Haak was pleased with what many of the younger players have shown for New Trier this season.

“I was really proud of especially Luke Wulff tonight, came on big the last half of the season with some big swings,” Haak said. “Evan Rick in the back row, he was hurt early. … The sophomore and junior class is very strong. Colin Kim is a tremendous setter for us. Trevor Chung is a junior. Those guys are going to be big for us next year.”

For Loyola Academy, Malles added four kills and three blocks. Trapp and Lechman had six kills apiece. Todd Pham posted nine digs, and Eiben had four blocks.

Ebeling believed Kins had more than the 13 assists he was credited for on the team’s stat sheet.

“Our passers — Charlie (Trapp), Drew (Bevan), Todd (Pham) — did a phenomenal job on that first contact that let our middles get involved which put it up for our pins on the side,” Ebeling said.

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