Hersey pleased with second place

Even though the Hersey girls volleyball team lost the championship match of the Willowbrook Invitational, the smiles flashed afterward for a team picture told the story.

"We're happy with our tournament," said Huskies coach Nancy Lill after her team fell to Wheaton Warrenville South 25-12, 25-20 in the title match Saturday afternoon in Villa Park.

"Obviously Game 1 of this match, we were just like dysfunctional. We were missing our timing with our hitters. It seemed like our first match, but overall we were thrilled with the tournament.

"It was a good experience with some good competition. The second game against Wheaton Warrenville was more like the way we should be playing. I was happier with the effort there, still not enough, but they're a strong team."

WW South (5-0) swept its way through the eight-team tourney.

"It's a start, a good start," said Tigers senior outside hitter Becca Zlabis, who pounded a match-high 10 kills. "We know where we are now and what we need to work on. Our goal is to win state so we're just taking baby steps to get there."

WW South looked like a serious Class 4A state title contender the way it dismantled Hersey (4-3) in the first game with strong serving and a powerful attack.

Hersey fell behind 5-0 in Game 2 before regrouping and shoring up its serve receiving to give the Tigers a battle. The Huskies rode a 4-point run to claim an 18-17 lead after an Ann Carroll kill and a Shelly Mueller ace.

But the Tigers recorded the next 7 points with Mollie Kolosky taking a quick set from Anne Luhrsen and burying a kill for match point.

Kolosky finished with 7 kills. Luhrsen tallied 17 assists, 3 aces and 2 kills.

Lauren Dembkowski's 6 kills paced Hersey. Mueller totaled 10 assists and 2 aces.

"They came at us," said Lill, whose club was the only one to reach 20 points in a game against WW South. "It was an awakening at times, but I'm thrilled with the way we played overall."