Girls volleyball: Lakes hits high note against Libertyville

When the national anthem didn't go as planned, players stood.

Tall.

And sang loud. A cappella. Even fans from both sides joined in.

This was no time to take a knee and sit one out.

"I think Libertyville (started singing first)," Lakes volleyball player Erica Grant said. "They realized the technical difficulties weren't going to be solved, so we all just joined in."

It's not the start that matters. It's the finish.

Take Grant and her teammates Wednesday night at Libertyville. Like Libertyville's recorded version of the national anthem, which experienced technical problems and failed to play, the Eagles got off to a tough start. But Grant's seventh kill finished off a thrilling 25-23, 25-22 nonconference win for Lakes over the perennial North Suburban Conference power.

Lakes overcame late deficits in both sets to improve to 2-0, while Libertyville fell to an uncharacteristic 0-2.

"It was incredible," said Lakes coach Jenni Floren, who's coaching the team along with Tyler Boyce in place of Kate Cheek, who's pregnant. "The girls are capable of what you saw in the second match and the second half of the first match. We talk about these little speed bumps all the time. We're trying to just eliminate the speed bumps and know that no matter where you start to just keep climbing."

Lakes fell behind 6-0 in the opening set thanks to six unforced errors. The Eagles trailed 18-10 before strong play at the net from Grant, Katie Billetdeaux (4 kills), Keelan Bell (4 blocks) and Kelly Zeason helped fuel a rally.

Lakes pulled out the first set despite missing 4 serves.

"We just had to dig deep and push through it," said the hard-hitting senior Grant, who's verbally committed to Division I Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville. "Our coach told us to just talk through everything and communicate with each other."

Libertyville, which lost to New Trier the previous night, was missing a couple of players, including junior middle Maggie Evers.

"We're working out some lineups," said coach Greg Loika, whose Wildcats graduated star libero Morgan O'Brien (Illinois), middle Hayley Stevenson and setter Anna Lillydahl. "We're thin and a little banged up at the start."

Both teams showed off freshman setters. Devinn Bell, whose sister Keelan is a starting junior middle, ran Lakes' offense along with Rachel Orpano.

"Great leadership, poise a confidence for a freshman," Floren said. "It's very impressive. Great things to come."

Orpano dished out 9 assists for Lakes, which also got 12 digs from Alyssa Bombicino.

Libertyville 6-foot freshman setter Peyton O'Brien is the sister of senior outside hitter Madison O'Brien. Peyton O'Brien dished out 9 assists, pounded 4 kills and served back-to-back aces in the opening set to stretch Libertyville's lead to 16-9.

"We're excited about her," Loika said. "She's 14. So stepping out for your first couple of varsity matches, it gets a little fast. But she's confident, has a great attitude, and the girls love her."

Libertyville's only returning starters off last year's 27-win squad are Madison O'Brien, Anna Valente (team-high 7 kills vs. Lakes) and Morgan DeGregor. Loika thought the Wildcats' inexperience might have contributed to their inability to finish off either set against Lakes.

The Wildcats were up 18-16 in the second set but surrendered three straight points (two on errors).

"Those are games we're accustomed to winning with experience," said Loika, whose team hosts the Crosstown Classic on Friday and Saturday. "Now we got to learn how to finish in tight matches. This weekend will be a good opportunity to hopefully do that."