Girls volleyball: Cary-Grove's attack too much for Crystal Lake Central

Cary-Grove standout senior setter Erin Olson made certain the Trojans attacked Crystal Lake Central from all angles in Tuesday night's Class 4A Hampshire girls volleyball sectional semifinal.

Olson utilized her potent middle tandem of Allie Splitt and Maddy Katchen to perfection, then turned to outside hitter Sarah Graham down the stretch to help the top-seeded Trojans advance with a 25-12, 25-21 victory.

Cary-Grove (32-5) completed a difficult three match sweep over the Tigers this season and will try to duplicate that feat against No. 3 seed Crystal Lake South (23-15) in Thursday's sectional final.

Olson finished with 17 assists and also stepped up offensively with 5 clutch kills in the second game.

Splitt contributed a match-high 8 kills, while Katchen and Graham landed 3 kills each.

"Our defense had a game and man, everything was up and pretty much right to me," Olson said. "The middles were on fire and the right side was unstoppable."

The Trojans cruised to a win in the opening game, scoring 15 of the last 19 points, but had to elevate their play after the determined Tigers rallied for a 17-16 lead in Game 2.

Graham and Splitt each hammered a pair of kills and Olson got into the act with a lethal back row kill to set up match point at 24-20.

The Tigers forced a side out, but tipped wide after a wild scramble to keep the final point alive.

"Sarah picking up her game at the end was critical for us," said Trojans' coach Patty Langanis. "When we can get another hitter going, that really helps support our middle attack."

"It felt good to contribute at the end," Graham said. "We really tried to stay in the moment and step it up because Central was really bringing their game."

Crystal Lake Central (27-11) gave the Trojans a test upfront with sophomores Emily Kelly (6 kills) and Megan Kelly along with seniors Brittney Lownds and Courtney Ward, but the Trojans responded to the challenge.

"They were attacking our line like crazy. We were having a really hard time stopping it," Langanis said. "Toward the end of Game 2 we started to adjust a little bit better."

"Cary has a lot of experience in the middle and setting positions, and their attack is just really tough to stop," credited Tigers coach Lisa Brunstrum.

"We have sophomores in those positions and I was proud of how they fought at the end and made Cary-Grove earn it."

With a predominantly senior squad, Cary-Grove is relishing the opportunity for a sectional title, but is taking nothing for granted.

"It's going to be a tough match and I'm excited for it," Olson said.

"This team has worked so hard with seven seniors and six starters. They've given so much to the program for the last three to four years. This is really important to us and a goal we've had for a very long time," Langanis said.