Girls volleyball: Dundee-Crown puts away Bartlett

Before regional play starts in a little over two weeks, Dundee-Crown girls volleyball coach Christine Hopkins-Muehl is hoping her team can put together a solid match from start to finish.

Despite inconsistencies and mistakes, the Chargers moved to 15-5 for the season with a 29-27, 25-8 win over Bartlett in non conference action in Carpentersville Thursday night.

"We are at a weird crossroads as a team right now," said the D-C coach. "We have started too many matches like tonight playing uninspired volleyball. We had too many mental hiccups. I am pleased with the way we played in the second game. We dominated like we are capable of. I wanted to see that type of domination for a whole match."

Bartlett (10-11-1) was able to take advantage of D-C mistakes in Game 1 and led 14-9 after a block by Kelly Harris.

The Chargers rebounded from a slow start and were actually a point from winning the game after a kill by Gina Pagano gave the Chargers a 24-20 lead.

The Hawks kept their composure and scored the next 4 points to tie the game at 24 on a kill by Megan Regan.

After the game was tied at 25, 26 and 27, D-C was able to score the final 2 points to take a 1-0 lead in the match capped by a block from Paige Gieseke.

The Chargers took the momentum from winning Game 1 to dominate the Hawks in the second game.

Spearheaded by an ace from Pagano, the Chargers catapulted to a 15-4 advantage. D-C ripped off 7 straight points led by 3 kills from Breanna Novak to take its biggest lead of the game at 22-4.

A kill from Ashley Raby gave the Chargers the game and the match.

"We played for the team and as a team in the second game." said Pagano. "We have to start matches with more intensity before regionals start."

The well-balanced Charger attack was led by Novak with 9 kills. Pagano added 7 kills with 3 aces and Frankie Cavallaro delivered 6 kills. Emma Brant collected 6 kills with 3 aces for the winners.

Regan led Bartlett with 5 kills and Susan Arns added 4 kills.

'We were really ready to go tonight and played very well in the first game," said Bartlett coach Michelle Bickus. "Everything just snowballed in the wrong direction in the second game."