Sabres, crowd silence Hawks

The Streamwood girls volleyball team had some help from a seventh player as the crowd put the Sabres right back in after dropping Game 1 to Bartlett 25-18 in Upstate Eight Conference play Thursday night.

Streamwood (14-14, 6-4) took Bartlett's momentum right away in Game 2 opening up with an 8-4 lead keyed by two Hue Le aces.

"The first game we struggled passing and attacking," said Sabres coach Kevin Kwon. "I told them just to play consistent and that carried over into game two."

Le led the Sabres with 6 aces while Betsy Holman stepped up to lead with 9 kills, one more than Streamwood's top player, Katie Post.

"(Holman's) probably the most improved player on the team," Kwon said. "Wow, how's she's grown. She's been working hard all season."

The Hawks' game plan was to silence Post, which worked well in Game 1.

"We were blocking her really well all night," said Hawks coach Jill Bergmann. "(Post) just started tipping the ball and allowing her teammates to back her up."

The Hawks (14-13, 5-5) did claw their way back into Game 2 to end with a respectable 25-22 loss with the fans, from both sides, livening the atmosphere.

"The way they were all into it was a great atmosphere," Kwon said. "They really kept us going."

For the Hawks, the noise might have been a factor as Bartlett struggled from the beginning of the third game.

"That was probably the loudest I've heard a crowd at any of our games this year," Bergmann said. "We couldn't hear ourselves at all. That hurts our communication."

The Hawks finished the game with 13 service errors while dropping the third game 25-18.

"We made mistakes. It's as simple as that," Bergmann said. "Thirteen errors are the most we've had in any game this season. More than even any tournament."

The Sabres opened up a 17-11 lead in Game 3 which the Hawks were unable to overcome with their smallest deficit at 18-14 the rest of the way.

The Hawks did have some impressive numbers though, with Meghan Mangahas leading with 20 assists, Carly Sahagian with 10 kills and 4 blocks and Emily Hayes with 7 kills and 2 blocks.

CL South d. Dundee-Crown: Laura Jensen had every reason to smile.

The Crystal Lake South coach watched with great excitement as the Gators earned a tie for the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division crown with a 25-19, 25-21 over Dundee-Crown Thursday night at Gator Alley.

Crystal Lake South, which celebrated Senior Night, moved to 8-0 in league play and 18-10 overall. A win at Cary-Grove Tuesday night gives the Gators the conference title outright.

"With all the hoopla, I am very happy with the way the girls focused against a very strong D-C team," said Jensen. "We got a piece of the conference championship. Now, we want to clinch it Tuesday night. We had a very balanced attack."

Senior Morgan Kilberger, who played her last regular-season home match, enjoyed a solid night with 9 kills and 2 blocks.

"This is an awesome feeling," said Kilberger. "We need to take care of business Tuesday against Cary. This team is so positive and we have great communication.

"Everybody talks to each other. Nobody cares who gets the kills. There are no conflicts on this team. We are like sisters. We are truly family."

The Gators were able to overcome early deficits in both games to win the match.

In Game 1, the Chargers (16-7, 4-4) came out blazing. South couldn't stop Amanda Lutzow early as the senior hitter got loose for 4 kills as the Chargers got off to a 6-2 lead.

The patient Gators methodically whittled away at the Charger advantage and finally took the lead for good 15-14 on a kill by Erin Johnson.

Crystal Lake South, which took control of the game with a 7-0 run, grabbed a 21-14 advantage after an ace by Katie Trayser. A kill by Johnson gave South Game 1.

Like in Game 1, D-C came out hot in Game 2. With Lutzow and Kathleen Collinbourne each depositing 3 kills, the Chargers raced out to a 10-5 lead.

The Gators bounced right back with 8 straight points. An ace by Ali Meyers gave South a 13-10 lead, an advantage it never lost.

Crystal Lake South's biggest lead was 22-15 after a Johnson kill. The Gators won the game and match on a kill by Briana Flanagan.

Johnson paced the Gators with 11 kills.

"They were giving us the middle so we took advantage of that with Erin," said Jensen. "We are a tough team to defend."

Lutzow paced the Chargers with 10 kills.

"Inconsistency, inconsistency," said Dundee-Crown coach Tracy Williams. "We play so strong at times, but we can't keep it up for the entire match. I have been preaching consistency all season. You can't make mistakes against good teams."

-- Dave Hess

Prairie Ridge d. Huntley: With solid play from Ashley Doherty (10 kills), Sandra Parys (11 kills) and Kari Rankin (16 digs), Prairie Ridge improved to 16-12 overall and 7-2 in conference action with this Fox Valley Conference Fox Division win.

The Wolves won in two games by scores of 25-21, 26-24. Leading the attack for Huntley (11-17, 1-7) was Krissy Bergquist with 10 kills and 5 digs. Amanda Carroll added 16 assists.

Cary-Grove d. McHenry: Cary-Grove (26-7, 6-2) earned this Fox Valley Conference Valley Division victory over McHenry in two games by matching scores of 25-15, 25-15. Breanna Smith (4 blocks, 2 aces), Danielle Smith (6 kills, 6 digs) and Allison Straumann (7 kills, 6 digs) led the Trojan attack.

South Elgin d. East Aurora: South Elgin (11-14, 3-7) recorded another Upstate Eight Conference victory taking East Aurora in two games by scores of 25-16 and 25-20. The Storm were led by Hayley Bradley with 8 kills and Tara Bradley (3 kills, 5 digs, 20 assists).

Woodstock d. Jacobs: Despite solid efforts from Amy Cavanaugh (4 kills, block, dig) and Brittney Mascola (22 digs, 2 aces), Jacobs (12-16, 1-7) came out on the losing end of this Fox Valley Conference Valley Division match-up. Carlie Schwabe (9 digs), Sammie Schwabe (8 digs) and Stacie Weinert (8 digs) added to the Golden Eagle attack.