Wildcats prevail to net Lake title
The Libertyville girls volleyball team had a lot to overcome Wednesday.
It was senior night for Stevenson, and the Patriots came into the match undefeated in the North Suburban Conference Lake Division. When play started, Stevenson controlled the first game 25-21.
Prior to the second game, Libertyville coach Chris Trzyna still had a good feeling about the match.
"We knew what was on the line and we never lost focus," she said.
Libertyville went on to win the final two games 25-20, 25-20 to clinch the NSC Lake title. The Wildcats (21-6) finished conference play with a 5-1 record.
Stevenson and Lake Zurich are each 4-1 and will meet Friday. But Libertyville has defeated both teams in conference play and will represent the Lake Division next week in the league title match against Prairie Division champion Antioch.
"This is the game we've been looking forward to all year," Libertyville senior middle blocker Ali Haws said.
Added junior outside hitter Emma Mach: "Stevenson is our biggest rival and this is always the toughest match."
Stevenson (19-7) was never in synch during the final two games.
"Libertyville had a lot to do with our (inability) to get anything going, but we made things so much tougher for ourselves," Patriots coach Tim Crow said. "Our timing was messed up. We gave them somewhat easy transitions and they made us pay."
The Wildcats took control of the third game by running off the first six points. Libertyville enjoyed a 12-5 advantage and never allowed Stevenson closer than six points the rest of the way.
"They got us in a big hole and it seemed like we were trying to win the game on every single point," Crow said.
Stevenson senior middle blocker Margaret Salata and senior setter Hannah Burke each had 7 kills. Some shaky passing at times forced Burke to set the ball directly over the net, which she did effectively. Junior Izzy Shaindlin came through with 23 digs.
For Libertyville, Mach (14 kills) and Haws (10 kills) led the attack. Senior Lexie Gibbons and Haws had 5 and 3 blocks, respectively. Senior Erin DeMarco contributed 31 assists.
The match featured several long rallies where the Wildcats and Patriots did an excellent job of keeping the point alive.
"Neither team gave up on the ball," Trzyna said. "That was a credit to both teams."