Girls volleyball: BG fights off Conant for three-set comeback win
Buffalo Grove and Conant's girls volleyball teams started out Tuesday's third set tied on every point from four to 14.
Tight sets have not exactly been easy for the Bison to win.
"We've been fighting it a bit mentally when things have been close," said Bison coach Matt Priban.
But not on this night.
BG was able to end the streak of ties when 6-foot senior middle blocker Kanella Kalyviaris put down a kill for a 16-14 advantage and the Bison never lost the lead en route to a 22-25, 25-23, 25-20 triumph in the Mid-Suburban League crossover match.
"We've been fighting all season," said Kalyviaris, who led BG with 8 kills and added 3 blocks. "We finally found the fire that got us going. It feels great because we have been working for a big win. We feel like we are ready for the regionals."
Conant was ready at the start, winning the first set on a back row kill by freshman Yuri Hara (3 aces).
Cougars senior middle blocker Jorie Wachal played a big role in the set, putting down 6 of her team-high 10 kills.
Conant led 20-14 but BG got right back into the set when Marianna Galiti put down a kill and then served 3 straight aces. A kill by Kim Barton got BG to within 21-19 but a kill and then a block by Wachal extended Conant's lead to 24-19.
"Jorie played phenomenal for us," said Cougars coach Drewann Pancratz. "She has been scoring points for us in the front row and getting tips on blocks."
Ally Peacock added 9 kills for Conant and Ania Baker had 6 with setter Kristina Loznjakovic handing out 22 assists. Michaela Vasalos led the back row with 14 digs.
"We made a lot of unforced errors," Pancratz added. "It comes down to serve and serve receive and we missed too many serves and we were back on our heels too much and didn't pass well enough."
Galati and Kim Barton each added 7 kills for the Bison (5-21) while Nadia Tarasova had 4. They took their cues from setter Hannah Schuler, who handed out 24 assists.
Tarasova and Sasha Rozhko each served 4 aces and Lindsey Prommer collected 4 blocks with 3 kills.
BG's back row was paced by Kiarra Akiyoshi (11 digs), Kana Tamai (9) and Cross (9).
"It was nice to come back after the first set," Priban said. "Conant played well that set. We had to clean up our hitting and serving errors. Our defense also picked up and we started swinging better."
Barton's block gave BG a 23-19 lead in the final set and a hitting error got the Bison to match point.
Moments later, Barton accepted a quick set from Schuler and put down the match-winning kill.
Conant (13-17) won't have to wait long to try and avenge the loss. The two teams are scheduled to play Friday night at the Lake Park Invite.