FEATURE

The Starting VII

Week 10

By Aaron Brown

With a lot of water polo left to be played and a lot of questions surrounding who will advance in the state playoffs, here is a quick look at some of the most intriguing opening round matchups in the IHSA state water polo playoffs, which begin on Monday night:

I. Waubonsie Valley vs Naperville North (Boys)

Hard to imagine this game as a first round matchup, but anything can happen when these two meet, so expect an interesting game at the Neuqua Valley Sectional on Thursday.

II. Prospect vs Hersey (Girls)

The MSL East rivals meet in the opening round of the GBN Sectional, just two weeks after Hersey knocked Prospect out of the MSL title game with a 16-9 victory. The Knights will be looking for revenge, while Hersey will look to repeat their performance and earn a chance to possibly play top-seeded Loyola in the second round.

III. New Trier vs Glenbrook North (Boys)

The Trevians come into the GBN Sectional as the fourth seed, even though they just beat two teams seeded ahead of them (GBS and Evanston) to win the CSL title. They will be looking to make a statement against the sectional hosts, who finished fourth in the CSL.

IV. Waubonsie Valley vs Lockport (Girls)

Expect a close game in the opening round game between Waubonsie Valley and Lockport at the NV Sectional on Wednesday night.

V. Fremd vs Meadows (Boys)

Both teams would love a shot at top-seeded Schaumburg in the second round, so expect a hard-fought and competitive game between the Vikings MSL East division-winning Mustangs on Thursday.

VI. R-B vs Stagg (Boys)

The two teams tied earlier this season, so expect another tight matchup between R-B and Stagg at the Lyons Sectional on Thursday night.

VII. Andrew vs Lincoln-Way Central (Boys)

Two SWSC teams face off in the 4 vs 5 game at the LWC Sectional on Thursday; Andrew finished one game ahead of the Knights in the conference in 2009.

The First Sub

STC East vs STC North (Boys)

The two St Charles teams face off in the play-in game at the Neuqua Valley Sectional in what should be a closely contested matchup between the two rivals.