Not this time: Warriors fall short

Last fall, Maine West's girls volleyball team scored its first triumph over Glenbrook North in 15 years.

The Warriors were hoping to retain that momentum when they hosted the Spartans Monday night in another Central Suburban North match.

After winning the first game by 3 points on an ace by Liz Freeman, the Warriors put themselves in the driver's seat.

However, Glenbrook North steered its way to victories in the next two games to pull out a 22-25, 25-19, 25-16 triumph in Des Plaines.

"It was so exciting for us last year to get that first win in 15 years over them," said Warriors junior power hitter Alise Tupuritis, who put down a team-high 7 kills. "We really wanted to do it again this time. For some reason, we just couldn't get motivated in Game 2.

"Even in the first game we had a big lead and let them come back. Sometimes, we'll make an error on the floor and things just seem to go downhill."

It was all uphill when senior middle blocker Mary Kusner (8 blocks, 1 kill) served 7 straight points to give West a 14-2 lead in Game 1.

Glenbrook North, led by 6-foot-1 Jackie Marks (8 kills) and 6-foot Amy Keding (7) on attack, charged back and pulled to within 23-22 before West won it on a hitting error and Freeman's ace.

"We did not serve well for the first 13 points in Game 1," said Glenbrook North coach Chris Cooper, who led the Spartans (12-4, 2-0) to conference titles in his first four years before last year's third-place finish. "We did not make them earn their points."

But the Spartans earned the next two wins, breaking a 19-19 tie in Game 2 with 6 straight points.

"I called two time outs there," said West coach Randy Tiller. "I couldn't do anything to get us a sideout."

Game 3 went back and forth until Spartans setter Maddy McAuliffe served 5 straight points, leading to a 15-9 lead.

Kusner's block on an over pass brought West (6-9, 1-1) to within 16-13 but that's as close as it would get.

"I don't know how the match was to watch from the stands, but I thought it was sloppy ball-handling by both sides," Cooper said.

"Maine West has a big team. They block great and have a couple of good hitters and some good athletes. If their ball handling gets better, they'll be one of the top teams in the area."

Amanda Knipp contributed 5 kills for West while Maria Rozo had 2 kills and 2 blocks.

Amanda Zito, Emily Ott, Michelle Obillo and Kelsey Hargesheimer each contributed 1 kill for the Warriors.

"Glenbrook North played consistent and executed well," Tiller said. "They finessed us when they had to. We thought we covered tips well, then we proved we didn't. We just have to work on better floor defense."

"Now we know what they (Glenbrook North ) do," Tupuritis said. "They kept tipping over our block. We need to stay more on our toes and low to the ground."

Maine South d. Conant: West Virginia-bound Michelle Kopecky put down 20 kills and Katherine Hozian added 14 for Conant but Maine South was still able to record a 25-19, 30-32, 25-15 victory.

Mandy Larsen added 8 kills for Conant (7-9) while Tricia Kutramanes handed out 35 assists in the nonconference match in Park Ridge.

Vernon Hills d. Wheeling: The visiting Wildcats (6-10) were led on attack in the nonconference match by Carly Speidel (11 kills), Lidia Villalobos, (8 kills), Nicole Schroeder (6) and Lindsey Mills (5).

Janelle Schroeder handed out 21 assists while Annemarie Spiezia had 4 kills.