VHVB 2001
The story:
The program began as Vernon Hills opened its doors, splitting off from Libertyville HS and welcoming its first students (9th-11th graders) in 2000-2001. Only one player on the initial roster (Ian Peckler) had any varsity experience, having started at middle his freshman year at LHS.
Everything that season was, obviously, a first. We got our first win during our first match (15-7, 15-8 against Maine East). In that match, we recorded the first assist (Ervin Cabrales), first kill (Kevin Berman), first block (Berman and Peckler), and first ace (Noah Borden). We were really bad at dig stats that first season, so those totals and details are lost to history (though there’s a good chance it was Justin Frazier).
We won our first tournament over spring break when we travelled to North Chicago with the half of varsity that was in town, plus 5-6 JV guys, went 5-0 (including a win over a Whitney Young team coached by future Warren coach Yun Chen), and took home the largest, silliest trophy ever.
Finishing over .500 was a major accomplishment for a first-year program. The foundation had been laid, and we’d lose no one to graduation. So it began…
Record: 18-17-1 (3-5, 6th/9 NSC)
Post-season: lost to Stevenson 12-15, 14-16 in the first round of the playoffs (at Wheeling HS?)
Roster:
Mike Bahnick
Kevin Berman
Noah Borden
Ervin Cabrales
Justin Frazier
Stephen Kim
Tim Lackie
Steven Melvin
Carlito Nazal
Ryan Nishimoto
Ian Peckler
Glen Scherrer
Erich Steinhaus
Individual Awards:
- NSC All-Conference: Ian Peckler, Kevin Berman
- NSC All-Conference Honorable Mention: Ervin Cabrales
- Daily Herald All-Area Team: Ervin Cabrales, Ian Peckler
- Most Valuable Player: Ian Peckler
Coaches:
Varsity: Chris Curry, Steve Rochon
Junior Varsity: Todd Williams
Freshman: Aaron Wellington