Rockford East and Guilford host Varsity Volleyball Invitational

By Mr. Michael J. Armato

Rockford East High School Assistant Principal/Athletic Director

ROCKFORD – Rockford East’s 5th Annual Varsity Volleyball Invitational has yet to be held in its entirety at Rockford’s Historic East High School.

It was scheduled there this year with the addition of the Field-house project, however heavy rains a few weeks ago and a burst drain pipe, flooded the second floor gym, so East High School had to improvise, moving one bracket of the event over to Guilford High School.

“The other RPS High School have been great in assisting us after the damage done to the main gym (and pool underneath). The teams in the tournament were also very understanding and patient while we worked out the details of dual hosting sites,” East Athletic Director Michael Armato said.

The results were two, 8 team pools, being played out both at Guilford High School’s Field-house and East’s Field-house.

“Our head boys VB coach and myself ran Guilford, and a crew of East Coaches and staff members oversaw the bracket at East. Both sites ran well and so many East people worked extremely hard to pull this all off. They did awesome,” Armato continued.

“Best coaching staff I’ve had the privilege of working with.”

The black pool, played at Guilford, was won by Chicago Latin School from the North Side of the city. Latin defeated Antioch High in two games.

The Red pool played out at East, featured the host school in the championship contest versus Quincy ND, with the E-Rabs falling in two games.

Other local teams participating included: Jefferson, Rockford Christian Life, Rockford Christian, Belvidere, and Freeport. Tournament format was pool play followed by bracket play.

Teams finishing in the top of their pool were placed in the championship bracket, while teams placing in the lower half of their pool were placed into the consolation bracket. All schools were guaranteed five matches.

The teams were spread into two pools: red and black.

The ranking for the red pool was: first: Quincy ND, second: East High School, third Streator, fourth: West Carroll, fifth: Hampshire, sixth: Belvidere, seventh: Elgin, and eighth: Rockford Christian.

The black pool ranking began with first place Chicago Latin, second place: Antioch, third: Freeport, fourth: Rochelle, fifth: Woodstock, sixth: Jefferson, seventh: Rockford Christian Life, eighth: Ottawa Marquette.

Antioch won over Jefferson with the first game scoring 25-14 and the second scoring 25-13.

Antioch also beat Rochelle with scores of 25-7 and 25-20.

Antioch split was split with Woodstock with the first game scoring 21-25 and the second game going in Antioch’s favor with 25-22.

Jefferson also split with Woodstock, losing the first game 16-25, but winning the second game 26-24.

Then, Rochelle won over Jefferson 27-25 and then 25-15.

Rochelle was split with Woodstock 25-16 and then 17-25.

In the next pool, Chicago Latin won over Freeport 25-7 and 25-13.

Chicago Latin also won over Ottawa Marquette with 25-10 and 25-17.

Chicago Latin also won over Christian Life with 25-12 and 25-14.

Freeport beat Christian Life as well with scores of 25-8 and 25-21.

Freeport then split the game with Ottawa Marquette losing the first game 22-25, but won the second 25-11.

Ottawa Marquette then split the game with Christian Life winning the first game 25-21, but losing the second game 22-25.

In the championship round, Antioch defeated Freeport in a 2-0 shutout moving onto the semi-finals where they defeated Rochelle in another 2-0 shutout.

For the runner up match, Freeport defeated Rochelle in a 2-0 shutout.

In the final game, Chicago Latin defeated Antioch in a 2-0 shutout.

Chicago Latin took first, with Antioch in second and Freeport in third in the Black Pool Championship matches.

The Red Pool began with East defeating Elgin 25-15 and 25-19.

East also defeated Hampshire 25-7 and 25-17.

East defeated Streator 25-9 and 25-23.

Streator defeated Elgin 25-16 and 25-22.

Streator split a win with Hampshire winning the first game 25-17, but losing the second game to Hampshire 19-25.

Hampshire also split a win with Elgin. Hampshire lost the first game 18-25 and won the second game 25-19.

In the other red pool group, Quincy defeated Belvidere 25-12 and 25-17.

Quincy ND also defeated Rockford Christian 25-3 and 25-9.

Quincy ND took another win over West Carroll with 25-18 and 26-24.

Belvidere won over Rockford Christian with 25-11 and 25-16.

West Carroll also defeated Rockford Christian 25-16 and 25-14.

In the Semi-finals, East won over West Carroll in a 2-0 shutout.

Then, Quincy ND won over Streator 2-1.

In the game to determine third place, Streator won over West Carroll 2-0.

In the Championship Match, Quincy ND defeated East 2-0.

The winners of the Red Pool included: Quincy ND in first, East High School in second, and Streator in third.