Gators outlast Eagles
After toiling on the junior varsity team a year ago, junior Caitlin Mize just wanted to fit into a talented Crystal Lake South lineup in 2007.
She is more than fitting in. Mize is a major contributor for the Gators.
The junior middle hitter delivered 7 kills and 8 blocks to help lead the Gators to a hard fought 25-16, 29-27 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division girls volleyball win over Jacobs in Algonquin Thursday night.
"She basically replaces (Nora) Brockway in the middle," said Crystal Lake South coach Laura Jensen. "Caitlin was on fire tonight. She gives us another strong middle with Erin (Johnson). Caitlin has done an excellent job this season.''
Mize's goal was t o help in any way an already talented team.
"I just want to help us win and fit in," said Mize. "We have a lot of very good players. Jacobs played really tough in the second game. It was nerve-wracking but we were confident we would win even if it went to the third game."
Jacobs (8-9, 0-2) didn't show much resistence to the powerful Gators (8-4, 2-0) in Game 1.
With Johnson, Morgan Kilberger, Katie Trayser, Caitlin Schumacher and Mize dominating the net South turned a narrow 1-point 7-6 lead to a 18-6 advantage with 11 straight points. Trayser, Mize and Johnson contributed 2 kills along with 2 aces from Schumacher enabling the Gators to grab control of Game 1.
The Golden Eagles looked like a different team in Game 2.
The Gators did build up a 15-9 lead after a kill by Kilberger, but Jacobs refused to give up.
With Lauren Pigatto leading the way, the Golden Eagles tied the game at 23. The game was tied up at 25 and 27 before Mize delivered 2 kills as the Gators won the game and match.
"South is an absolutely phenomenal team," said Jacobs coach Lisa Dwyer. "They have a bunch of trees out there. We were very lackadasical in the first game. We weren't ready to play. But, we played much better in the second game. We played with a lot of heart. I told our kids our day will come."
Other, than Mize, Trayser delivered 9 kills for the winners. Jordan Guida had 34 set assists.
Pigatto paced Jacobs with 12 kills. Brittney Mascola had 19 digs while Erica Liss contributed 19 assists and 2 aces.