GRANITE CITY • When the East the St. Louis boys volleyball team traveled to Granite City for a Thursday afternoon matinee, one thing was certain: one squad was finally getting off the schnide.
Neither the Flyers nor the Warriors had been setting the prep volleyball world on fire this spring as neither had managed to win a match. But from the opening serve on Thursday, it was obvious which one featured the most talented players, the best passing, and the ability to finish.
Led by seven kills from junior rightside hitter Keenan Lawson and four from outside hitter Kenneth McCaster, the Flyers cruised to a 25-14, 25-11 victory in a little less than 45 minutes to earn their first win.
East St. Louis is now 1-4-2. Granite City is 0-5.
"We respect the process and respect our competition," said Flyers senior setter Dierre Littleton. "And we came in with the mind that if we work together as a team, the rest will take care of itself."
Behind the powerful hitting of the high-flying Lawson, the Flyers jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the opening game. In one stretch, Lawson sandwiched a pair of big kills around an impressive block.
Just as fast as East St. Louis jumped ahead, a couple errors from the over aggressive Flyers and a kill from Granite City's Matt Flemming got the Warriors back to 7-5.
But a subsequent kill by Jerry Hatter got the Flyers back on track, and from there they used a 13-6 run to grab control of the game.
Flemming and teammate John Prazma each had a kill down the stretch, but it was too little too late, and Lawson ended the game with an ace.
The showing was a far cry from the Flyers' performance a season ago - they finished 1-17 overall - and their struggles early this season. The Flyers did win a pair of games this spring, one against St. Mary's and another against Fort Zumwalt North.
Littleton said the difference in the 2011 squad is noticeable.
"The difference is we are all on one page and that's to get the job done, regardless of who is on the floor," Littleton said. "We play together and win together. If we lose, we go back to the drawing board and see what we can do to get better."
Littleton and his favorite players to set - McCaster, Lawson and Hatter - have grown up together on the squad and are looking to have their best season.
"We'll do better this year because we are all at the same grade level and started together," Littleton said. "We want to go to the playoffs and I thihk we're destined to do better."
Flyers coach Terrell Herring Sr. said the foursome has been coming on for awhile.
"I thought the kids played well today," said Herring, who is in his first season. "I actually stepped in at the right time."
Herring said the squad is different from last year's in several ways.
"They have the drive to win, and the will to win," Herring said. "And they want it."
Game two was more of the same, as Lawson opened with a jump-serve ace and East St. Louis built a 16-8 lead. The Warriors fought back with three straight points on a Drake Sitton tip, a Taylor Brewer kill and an ace from Zak Dittamore.
That prompted a timeout from Herring. But what followed was a string of Granite City errors that killed its momentum.
The Warriors were without the services of senior Ian Gagich, an accomplished 6-foot outside hitter. Gagich has been ill since the beginning of last month, and is hoping to be cleared to play by the end of next week.
Not surprisingly, Prazma said the first month of the season has been difficult.
"It's been frustrating," Prazma said. "It's had its ups and downs.
"We're obviously going to struggle with the potential we have right now. We will get better. It will just take time."
Prazma said the Flyers have always had height and good jumping ability, but in past seasons they have not been a strong passing team. There was a noticeable improvement Thursday night.
"They've stepped up their game a little bit," said Warriors coach Justin Warren of the Flyers. "I think that we're still in the learning stage of our play. That's kind of where we're at right now. We're still trying to figure out positions."
East St. Louis gets back to action on Tuesday when it plays host to Edwardsville at 5:30 p.m.
Granite City hosts Belleville West on Tuesday at 4:30 in the inaugural "Volley For the Vets" game, which is being held in support of the country's veterans that were wounded in combat.
Admission is a $5 donation at the door, or fans can gain entrance by purchasing a t-shirt in support of wounded veterans for $10. There will be a 50/50 drawing and a serving competition for prizes. All proceeds go to the charity American Spartan Inc.
For more information, go to Americanspartaninc.com or call Warren at 618-581-7339.
