Buchman, Grayslake North pass test against Grayslake Central
In her fourth season of varsity volleyball for Grayslake North, Kendall Buchman had never passed the Grayslake Central test. She and her teammates had failed every time to beat the Rams.
So imagine Buchman's disappointment at missing the Knights' match against Grayslake Central in the Lakes invite Saturday.
The senior was taking a different test - the ACT. Grayslake North lost in three sets.
Tuesday night, Buchman got another chance to face Grayslake Central. She and her teammates aced this test.
Buchman's 7 kills, 12 digs and 11 assists helped host Grayslake North outlast Grayslake Central 29-27, 16-25, 25-22 in a Fox Valley Fox Division match that was played in front of a large and spirited crowd.
"I was anxious all day," said Buchman, a 5-foot-7 setter/outside hitter who has a volleyball offer from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. "It really feels good (to beat Grayslake Central)."
Sidney Lovitsch added 7 kills and 5 block kills for Grayslake North (7-12, 3-1), which hadn't beaten Grayslake Central since 2011. The Knights won for the fifth time in their last eight matches. Maddy Helm had 6 kills, 24 digs and 15 assists, and Taylor Johnston recorded 17 digs.
"I just feel like we were all playing for each other," Buchman said. "Being a Grayslake North volleyball player for four years, I've never felt the chemistry and the will to win for each other as much as I have this year."
After an ace by the Knights' Kennedy Krieg ended a thrilling opening set in which neither team led by more than four points, Grayslake Central (8-11, 1-2) bounced back behind the hitting of 6-2 Allie Daul, who pounded seven of her match-best 12 kills in the middle set. Morgan Anderberg served three of her 5 aces, and Marie Gerbasi's kill forced the decisive set.
The third game was closely contested as well, but a kill by Helm snapped an 18-18 tie and gave the lead to the hosts for good.
"We didn't execute," Rams coach Jason Janczak said. "Grayslake North came at us, and they came at us with their right side, No. 8 (Helm), and with Buchman. We got on our heels, and we started tipping. We hardly tip. We usually swing.
"Especially in that third set, you can't tip to win."
Back-to-back kills by the 5-9 Lovitsch ended the match. An all-area basketball player last winter, the junior is displaying her athleticism in this sport too.
"The nice thing about Sidney is, she's so coachable," Grayslake North coach Jim Sarver said. "The other day we practiced what we call 'munchie' balls, where the ball is just set over the net from the other team and you go up and hit it. She worked hard at doing it."
Nicole Cave and Gerbasi finished with 7 and 6 kills, respectively, for Grayslake Central. Anderberg had 24 digs, while 6-foot sophomore setter Lauren LaBeck dished out 28 assists. The Rams got 2 aces apiece from Daul, freshman Amber Moser and Gerbasi.
But the Rams couldn't overcome a determined opponent that had ample motivation.
"They elevated their game," Janczak said of the Knights. "We didn't."