Two suspensions will make a state title quest far more difficult for Glenbard East's boys volleyball team this spring.

Piotr Dabrowski, a 6-foot-6 senior middle blocker, is out for the rest of the season following his second athletic code violation, according to Glenbard East coach Marci Maier. Tim Lovik, a 5-11 senior outside hitter, will miss seven games for his first athletic code violation. Maier said the suspensions were handed out Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

The Rams are down, evidenced by their first loss of the season Thursday at Wheaton Warrenville South, but not out of state title contention, Maier said.

“We’re still striving for that,” said the coach, whose team advanced to the state quarterfinals in 2008.

The Rams were 25-0 entering Thursday’s DuPage Valley Conference match against fellow state-power Wheaton South. East already had beaten the Tigers twice in three sets this season, but without Dabrowski and Lovik, the result was a 25-14, 25-13 defeat.

“We fought for every point we could get,” Maier said. “I’m proud of the team we had on the floor.”

Five days earlier, Glenbard East (25-1, 9-1) defeated the two-time defending state champion Tigers 25-22, 20-25, 25-23 to claim the Downers Grove South Invite title.

For the tournament, Dabrowski collected 24 kills and 20 blocks. Lovik powered the attack with 41 kills, including 12 against the Tigers, to go along with eight blocks and seven digs.

Lovik is expected back in time for the final match of the Willowbrook Invite Saturday, May 16. Maier said the team has very little time to build a new chemistry upon his return. Following the Willowbrook Invite, the Rams have just two scheduled matches, both conference, before regionals begin the week of May 25.

“It’s a healing process,” Maier said. “We are going to pick up the pieces and start putting the puzzle back together. We don’t have a lot of time. We’ll have to do it in a fast fashion.”

East earned the No. 1 seed in the Willowbrook sectional and could see No. 2 Wheaton South (22-4, 9-1) a fourth time this season.

In the loss on Thursday, 6-5 senior setter Mark Jones (three kills, four assists) and 5-11 outside hitter Nick Eagan (three kills, three blocks) tried to fill the void at the net.

Jason Jaent (five assists), Shawn Havenga (three blocks) and Peter Wingard (six digs) also contributed.