NT_040518

northbrooktower.com sports
the northbrook tower | April 5, 2018 | 43
Boys Volleyball
Spartans have skill, need experience
22nd Century Media File
Photo
1st-and-3
Teams to watch
1. GBN Basbeall
(ABOVE) The
Spartans are
already off to a
quick 8-0 start to
the season, leading
to hopefulness
of what they can
do this spring.
2. GBN boys volleyball
North’s lineup
will feature a
whole new look
this season, but
the Spartans are
excited to see
what they can put
together.
3. GBN Girls Lacrosse
The Spartans
look to build
a strong season
in the first year
lacrosse is an
IHSA-sanctioned
sport, squaring
off against the
best in the state.
Michal Dwojak, Sports Editor
Glenbrook North coach
Chris Cooper didn’t only
lose a season when the
Spartans lost to New Trier
in the IHSA Sectional Final
last season.
Cooper lost one of his
most experienced teams
he’s had during his 16-year
helm. The Spartans lost
in a tough battle against
the Trevians in which it
seemed like either team
deserved to move on in the
playoffs.
But that doesn’t mean
Cooper isn’t excited for
the next challenge this upcoming
season.
“It’s going to be an interesting
season,” Cooper
said. “We’re going to have
to replace pretty much all
six starters from last year.
It’s going to give a lot of
opportunity to the new
guys to see what they can
do. I like the idea that
we’ll be able to see that
growth over the year.”
Cooper has seen plenty
of different teams during
his years with the Spartans
and in the sport. While the
experience might not be
there, it doesn’t mean Cooper
isn’t excited for the
level of talent he’ll have
on this year’s squad.
Four seniors return
from last year’s team.
While they didn’t get the
most playing time with
the senior-laden team last
year, the experiences they
learned from being a part
of the winning culture is
something Cooper knows
will hopefully help translate
to a successful transition
for the new players on
the team.
“I think they did see
the level of competitiveness
that we had,” Cooper
said. “I can see that they’re
working hard and doing
what they should be doing
to get back to that level.”
Part of teaching that
experience comes in an
obvious way: playing volleyball.
The more the new
Spartans play together, the
more they’ll find ways to
win games in difficult situations.
But Cooper has already
started in helping make
sure his new players are
familiar with each other.
The offseason included
the players in the Spartans
volleyball program conditioning
with each other
and playing volleyball
with teams made up of
mixed levels for the players
to gain familiarity with
each other.
The Spartans are familiar
with each situation because
of the same structure
the program has at each
level. Each coach is on the
same page and essentially
runs the same style so the
progression at each level
just gets faster, and not
much else.
Cooper wants to keep it
as simple as possible for
his players because once
they get on the same page,
2018 Spartans Schedule
April 5 at Glenbrook South 6 p.m.
April 9 hosts Vernon Hills 6 p.m.
April 11 at Highland Park 6 p.m.
April 17 hosts Deerfield 6 p.m.
April 19 hosts Maine East 6 p.m.
April 20 at Smack Attack Invite 5 p.m.
April 21 at Smack Attack Invite 9 a.m.
April 23 at Lake Zurich 6 p.m.
April 25 at Maine West 6 p.m.
April 30 at New Trier 6 p.m.
May 1 at Vernon Hills 6 p.m.
May 3 hosts Highland Park 6 p.m.
May 4 hosts GBN Varsity Invite 5 p.m.
May 5 hosts GBN Varsity Invite 9 a.m.
May 8 at Deerfield 6 p.m.
May 10 at Maine East 6 p.m.
May 14 hosts Maine West 6 p.m.
May 16 at Brother Rice 6 p.m.
they’ll turn it on.
“We have to focus on
the little things that will
compete with experience,”
Cooper said. “This group
is going to take a little time
to be comfortable with
each other and it’s going
to take some time for me
to see which lineup is the
best.”
The players that Cooper
does have won’t likely
need much time based on
their skill. Cooper is excited
to see what this year’s
group can do based on the
talent he is bringing in. At
this point, he’s just going
to look for the right rotation
and rely on the four
retuning seniors he has.
Cooper has been in this
position before after 16
years with the Spartans.
He knows what to do.
“You look back on some
of the teams that were in a
similar situation,” Cooper
said. “You keep your expectations
high regardless
if they’re newer players.”
But despite all the
change and lack of experience,
things don’t change
for Cooper and his program.
He has goals and
expectations he wants his
players to accomplish, and
he’s ready for the challenge
of leading them to
those goals.
“Our expectations don’t
change with this team,”
Cooper said. “We want to
win our conference, want
to win the regional and
shot at sectional final.”
Listen Up
“It’s unique to be in this area and
competitive.”
Justin Georgacakis — The Glenbrook North boys
lacrosse coach on lacrosse in the North Shore.
tunE in
What to watch this week
The Glenbrook North boys volleyball team faces off
against rival Glenbrook South on Thursday, April 5.
• 6 p.m. at GBS
Index
41 - This Week In
40 - Athlete of the Week
Fastbreak is compiled by The Tower’s staff. Send comments to
m.dwojak@22ndcenturymedia.com.