The Neuqua Valley boys volleyball team placed third on Saturday at the Glenbard East Springfest, and the Wildcats did it without two seniors who were suspended for violating team rules.
Neuqua coach Erich Mendoza told The Heat Index that setter Sean Harmon and outside hitter Collin Adler were suspended for all five games of the tournament on Saturday and Tuesday's match vs. St. Charles East.
Harmon and Adler will be allowed to play at the Streamwood tournament on April 12.
"They broke some team rules and they're being punished for it," Mendoza said. "That's all I can really tell you."
The punishment involved the seniors working the statistics clipboards during the games. Adler and Harmon sat off to the side of their teammates, not next to them on the bench, and were not involved in the huddles during timeouts.
With two people out of the rotation, Tim Brackett and Alex Onsager were given extended minutes. Brackett hadn't played all season, but had 21 kills on the day, including nine in the third-place game.
"He was out the last few days on some college visits," Mendoza said about Brackett. "So, he didn't even get a chance to practice."
Onsager has been one of two setters in Neuqua's rotation. On Saturday, he was the main catalyst for the offense, totaling 94 assists over five games.
Senior middle hitter Brian Clark said he was impressed with the inexperienced players that got court time on Saturday.
"I thought a lot of people stepped up," said Clark, who had 23 kills in the tournament. "Alex Onsager, for one, at the setting role. Luckily we practiced. We had a day of practice where we were able to get some of the guys who hadn't had as much playing time and kind of work around with the rotation and stuff."
Junior Rob Bauer was not able to play against Conant because of cramping in his feet and legs that caused him to collapse on the court during the semifinal loss to Glenbard East. The outside hitter had 22 kills in the four games he played.
Neuqua's libero Brad Stout said the result the Wildcats got at the Springfest was a measured success. The senior pointed out the ups (blocking vs. St. Francis/placing third while not at full strength) and the downs (inconsistent serving, especially against Glenbard East).
"Overall with missing a couple of people, we played pretty good," Stout said. "Rob went down in the semifinal game, but we played in third-place game without him. Overall, it was a good weekend."
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