Buchman, Grayslake North calmly top Waukegan

Grayslake North varsity girls volleyball player Kendall Buchman definitely knows her role.

In fact, she relishes it.

For it was her calm demeanor and intense play on Monday that helped the Knights overcome a sluggish start and come away with a 25-22, 25-15 victory over 21st-seeded Waukegan in the second regional quarterfinal at Grayslake North on Monday evening.

"I'm used to it," the floor captain and team tri-captain said with a wide smile. "I try to keep everyone calm and composed. We just buckled down and pulled ourselves out a hole."

Waukegan came out on fire, jumping to a 7-0 lead before you could blink. But like Buchman said, the Knights chipped away slowly and surely.

With the score deadlocked at 14-14, fellow senior and co-captain Kate Smith's kill gave the Knights the lead for good at 16-15. Waukegan stayed close but junior outside hitter Alexis Martineau's kill ended the first game, as well the sunk the Bulldogs' hope.

That momentum certainly carried over to the second and deciding game.

Buchman's play intensified as she pounded 3 of her 5 kills on the night.

Buchman also tallied 2 blocks to go along with 7 assists for the 12th-seeded Knights, who improved to 13-22 on the season and will host fifth-seeded Lakes at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the regional semifinals.

"Waukegan played very scrappy and we were a little too relaxed (in the first game)," said Grayslake North coach Jim Sarver. "But we started picking up the pace and with eight seniors, our leadership really came through."

Grayslake North led from start to finish in the deciding game but Waukegan didn't go quietly. They actually trailed by only one at 16-15.

But the Knights rolled off the final 9 points of the game to seal the victory.

Buchman had 2 kills during the 9-0 burst, and junior middle hitter Abby Fish's kill ended the game and Waukegan's season.

"We're used to not panicking," added Sarver. "We take it one point at a time and the girls are really playing together as a team."

For the match, libero and junior Taylor Johnston had 10 digs, while Fish collected 6 kills to go along with 3 blocks. Senior outside hitters Annie Rauch and Kennedy Krieg each had 3 kills in the victory.