St. Charles North tops East
The seventh annual Volleyball for the Cure featured a little of everything Tuesday night at St. Charles North.
The North Stars were called for a rare red card that almost cost them in the first set, then St. Charles East coach Jennie Kull made an equally rare lineup mistake that was the big story of the second set.
As unusual as both of those were, something happened that has been quite common this fall — another North Stars victory. This one, a 25-23, 25-13 decision, wrapped up an outright Upstate Eight Conference River Division title for the North Stars after they shared last year's championship with the Saints and Geneva.
St. Charles North (20-3, 7-0) features four seniors who have been part of numerous hard-fought games with St. Charles East (15-7, 5-2).
“We know each year we play them they are going to be great competition,” said one of those four-year varsity players, libero Sam Lappin. “It feels good to finally beat them.
“We all had the same mindset of getting after it. We just wanted to win. I think it showed on the court. We were really scrappy and the whole team was playing as one. It was just great to see.”
The North Stars led for most of the first set, the biggest at 11-7 on Abby Graham's kill.
The Saints battled back behind sophomore Klaudia Sowizral, who slugged 5 of her team-high 6 kills in the set. The Saints pulled even at 13, and took their only lead of the set 18-17 when the North Stars hit into the net.
The match was tied again at 19, 20 and 21 before Jaclyn Taylor set Daley Krage for a blast that made it 22-21.
Leading 24-22, the North Stars' middle was called for a red card for subbing in for the libero behind the 10-foot line. That gave the Saints a sideout and a chance to tie, but Claire Anderson delivered a booming kill.
“Most refs give a yellow card,” North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins said. “I'm glad they fought through some of their own errors the first set. It looked like we hadn't played volleyball in a while. I think it was a lot of anxiety of the game. It's always an emotional time.”
The North Stars took an early 8-3 lead in the second set when Taylor again found Anderson for a kill. Middle Anna DuVall came alive later in the set with 5 of her 8 kills.
we don't set our middles uite enoguh and she got the ball a lot. i was really heppy to see my setter getitng her the ball and her putting it away.
The Saints have been hit hard by injuries. Kyla Augustine played briefly in the second set and libero Taylor Chiaro also returned.
Alexis Jett (6 digs), Sowizral (3 blocks), Morgan Kull (10 assists, 5 digs), Avery Macklin and Riley Schumacher (3 kills) led the Saints.
“I'm really proud of how they battled in the first game,” coach Kull said. “I put the wrong lineup in the second game, the way I put it in there's no way they could have come through that. There's no way they could have battled through that. I hate to make it (that mistake) in a game like this for the conference title. My kids battled, they played great. That was all me. The kids tried the best they could.”
Anderson led both teams with 10 kills. Krage had 6 and Graham 4. Taylor set 24 assists tonight, while Lauren Caprini and Lappin had 3 digs.
we're super excited we're playing this well right now. obviously we have a lot to work on. we're exited we're playing great teams and playing them well and winning.