Will County Residents Help Illinois Unified Volleyball to Silver Medal At Special Olympics USA Summer Games

The Special Olympics USA Summer Games have now concluded in Minneapolis, but not before Team Illinois returned home with 54 medals, including a silver by the Unified volleyball team that featured four Will County residents.

Team Illinois overall earned 19 gold, 17 silver and 18 bronze medals during the Summer Games June 20-26 at the University of Minnesota and nearby Blaine, Minn. The weeklong competition featured approximately 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and 75,000 fans from all 50 states.

The Team Illinois Aces Unified volleyball team that included athletes Jimmy Moustis (Frankfort Square) and Matt Reczek (Mokena) along with Unified partners Dillon Buschmann (Tinley Park) and Arik Sorensen (Joliet) made it to the gold medal game and secured a silver medal.

Volleyball games were played at the University of Minnesota's 3M Arena at Mariucci.

Team Illinois lost to Team Ohio in the morning, 2 games to 1, and was then forced to play two straight matches in the afternoon. It defeated Team North Dakota in a very competitive match that went three games -- the third ending in a 15-13 Aces victory – before facing off again with Team Ohio for all the marbles. Team Ohio prevailed in straight games and it became obvious that Team Illinois having to play three matches in one day, including back-to-back semifinal and championship tilts, proved to be too much both physically and emotionally.

In the North Dakota match, Team Illinois was led by Sorensen (13 spikes, 6 aces, 4 digs, 3 blocks) and Reczek (6 spikes, 1 ace). Against Ohio, Reczek had 8 spikes, 2 aces and 1 dig, while Sorensen contributed with 5 spikes and Buschmann with 1 spike, 5 digs. Moustis was solid in his role in both games.

Sorensen was recognized with a Sportsmanship Award for his consistent display throughout the tournament. Team Illinois and its fans also were honored with a Spirit of the Games Award for its positive support of not only its team, but opponents, as well.

“Unified means everything,” said Sorensen. “Seeing these athletes succeed and get out there, game after game, and practice after practice, it’s awesome.”

Host Minnesota topped all state contingents with 136 medals, including 48 gold, 43 silver and 45 bronze. Illinois finished in sixth place with its 54 medals.

“I am just so proud of them because they played so well and tried so hard,” said Team Illinois Unified volleyball coach Julie Smith. “For our first time doing this… and the fact that they came from all over the state and not from just one team is pretty amazing.”