Mundelein shows finishing flair against Conant

In Set 1, Mundelein’s girls volleyball team trailed Conant 20-18.

In Set 2, the Mustangs faced a 22-17 deficit.

Both times, though, the Lake County visitors served notice they could finish sets — with a flat floater that helped lift them to a 25-21, 25-22 nonconference victory in Hoffman Estates on Wednesday night.

Middle blocker Ashley Dolin reeled off 5 straight points, including 3 aces, to get the Mustangs to set point (24-21) in the opener.

In the second set, junior Sarah Bregenzer’s string of 7 straight points (also 3 aces) ended the match.

“When we are serving at the top of our game, with that tough flat floater, it’s difficult for serve receivers to pass,” said Mustangs coach George Dressen, Jr., whose team improved to 7-12. “In both circumstances, we were looking at deficits. It would have been easy to let both sets get away but the girls hung in there and responded to the task.”

In Set 1, Dolin’s block of an overpass gave the Mustangs the sideout which started her serving string.

Dolin led the Mustangs with 5 blocks while also serving 3 aces and recording 5 kills.

“I love blocking,” said Dolin, the Mustangs’ 6-foot-2 senior captain who is hoping to continue her career in college. “That’s my favorite part of the game. I feel it really fires up the team.”

Bregenzer brought the fire to the service line in Set 2.

The Cougars (8-12) surged ahead 22-17 on a kill by Sarah Manczko when Bregenzer began her match-closing serve.

“Sarah really stepped up,” Dolin added. “She put all her might into those serves and kept the ball alive on our side.”

During the run, junior Madi Wilcox blocked an overpass for a point and provided a quick set to Dolin for a kill.

Wilcox, who handed out 15 assists from 58-of-59 setting, was happy to be back in the Mustangs lineup after a foot injury kept her out of the Hersey tournament on Saturday.

“And Emily East did a real nice job stepping in to run the offense in all five matches on Saturday at Hersey,” Dressen Jr. said.

Conant also played five matches in the St. Viator Invite on Saturday and turned in a solid 3-2 effort.

“It’s been a disappointing work after our performance at St. Viator,” said Cougars coach Peggy Scholten. “We’re at the midway point of the season so there’s a long way to go and these girls work hard.

“The amount of growth and development they’ve shown is because of that hard work. We are looking to get back on track next week.”

Senior Shannon Levitt kept the Cougars back row on track with 15 digs while she also served 8-of-9 for an ace.

Manczko led the Cougars’ attack with 5 kills while teammate Katie Lomas had 3 and setter Suzi Loznjakovic handed out 9 assists.

“I feel like we are a young team,” said Loznjakovic, one of four Cougars (Levitt, Anita Kajewski and Saori Ishizuka) who celebrated Senior’s Night. “We are working hard and we see potential. I’m really proud of everyone.

“We broke down in serve receive a little so we will keep working on that. I have faith we can do it.”

Senior Elizabeth Cameron sparked the Mustangs’ back row with 11 digs while senior Courtney Perreault added 8 and sophomore Yasmeen Johnson 7.

Johnson also was 16-of-16 attacking with 5 kills and 2 blocks.

“Conant was very scrappy,” Dressen, Jr. added. “They saved a lot of balls and they play with a very positive attitude.”