South Elgin opens with triumph over Huntley

The South Elgin girls volleyball program could have several seniors on its roster this season.

But the Storm has only one senior, making it a young team for the second year in a row.

But with the way the Storm fought back Tuesday in its season-opener against Huntley -- the team that knocked South Elgin out of regional competition last season -- the Storm looked like a team with plenty of experience.

"From the first day of tryouts we came with an intensity that this is our year," South Elgin coach Joni Melahn said.

"We're mentally there as a team right now."

South Elgin fought off 2 game points in Game 1. With the Red Raiders leading 24-23 two Storm players combined for a block to even the game.

Alyssa Krause's kill with Huntley up 25-24 kept the Storm alive again.

South Elgin finally earned the Game 1 win on its fourth opportunity, when an overpass by the Red Raiders set up Hayley Bradley for a net kill, giving South Elgin a 30-28 win.

"We had our opportunities. In the two games we lost we had them," Huntley coach Michelle Jakubowski said. "The first game they wanted to give it to us. We didn't want to take it."

Game 2 was as tight as the opening game as the teams traded the lead numerous times. With the Red Raiders leading 25-24, Krissy Bergquist put the game away with one of her game-high 10 kills.

South Elgin took a 12-8 lead early in Game 3 after a kill from Alexa Kruel, the team's only senior this season.

Huntley responded by tying the game 13-13 after back-to-back aces from Toni Jaehnig. The Red Raiders went ahead 22-18 after a Taylor Karns ace, one of 6 aces she notched in the match.

As it did in the first game, the Storm rallied back.

With Huntley leading 24-23, Bradley went back to the service line and served an ace to tie the game. Another ace gave the Storm a 25-24 lead and match point. Bradley then served her third consecutive ace and fourth of the match, allowing the Storm to celebrate.

"We stuck in this match and everybody played together," Melahn said. "Everybody went full out the whole time."

Bradley had a team-high 9 kills for the Storm. The sophomore also had 7 digs. Kruel finished with 7 kills, 10 digs and 3 aces. Tara Bradley, in her first game as a setter, had 32 assists.

Jaehnig had 6 kills and 4 aces for Huntley. Stephanie Aroworade added 5 kills.