Sakowicz, Wauconda rise up against Lakes

It looked like anything but just another ho-hum match as visiting Lakes, a 27-game winner, took a 23-18 lead in set one of a pivotal volleyball match at Wauconda.

After all, the North Suburban Conference's Prairie Division crown was up for discussion on Wednesday night.

And then Wauconda's LeAnne Sakowicz went into serve for the trailing team.

"When I go into serve, I take a big breath,'' Sakowicz said. "I know my teammates will back me up. I tried to serve smart and tried to hit it at people. We've been working hard. And we needed this win."

That plan worked out very well, as Sakowicz brought her Bulldogs back into a tie with Lakes. And then both teams went on to play as if this was the last match of their lives.

Sakowicz had a so-called triple-triple (14 kills, 12 assists and 13 digs). She was instrumental in this instant classic won by Wauconda 30-28, 26-24.

"LeAnne was huge for us tonight,'' said Wauconda coach Alison Williams. "She was great in all facets and gave us great leadership on the court."

Lakes coach Kate Cheek knew her Eagles would be without the services of outside hitter, McKenna Lahr (injury), but she was disappointed to see her team lose leads in both sets.

"We played a little scared,'' Cheek said. "There were a lot of runs in this match. Wauconda's blocking was great tonight. Usually, we pull these close matches out. We love the pressure."

Set one was played evenly to start with. But with Megan Behrendt (13 kills, 15 digs) serving, the Eagles' lead soared to 16-12. Once the Bulldogs knotted the game up at 24-24, it was anyone's set. Wauconda (19-6) won it with Lucia Fernanda Gonzalez at the serving line.

Lakes (27-7) had help from setter Maddie Demo (24 assists and 14 digs).

"I haven't played in a match like this,'' Demo said. "Our goal was to win the division. Now we know what we have to work on. We'll go back to practice and come together."

Lakes looked ready to avenge the tough first-set loss and surged quickly to leads of 4-1 and 12-6. And then the home team came firing back. Sakowicz had a pair of kills. Sara Sexton (6 kills) checked in with a block kill. Wauconda was back in the set at 14-14.

"That's the best we've looked,'' Williams said. "We were digging in there and fighting. That's the first time we've done that."

Again this second set was up for grabs. The Eagles tied it up at 24-24. And again Sakowicz went to the serving line. Her 2 points put the Bulldogs ahead for good.

In the kill department, Catie Petralia had 4 kills and Becky Sidlowski chipped in 3 kills for Wauconda. Lakes had help from Katherine Billetdeaux (6 kills, 3 blocks) and Lisa Buehler (10 digs.