Add 2007 to list of WW South's DVC champions

During his team's postgame huddle, Wheaton Warrenville South girls volleyball coach Bill Schreier had his players look at the sign on the wall commemorating the program's DuPage Valley Conference champions of 1990, '94 and '97.

This year's club will be joining those teams after clinching the DVC title with a 25-16, 25-23 triumph over visiting Wheaton North on Tuesday night.

It's the first time the Tigers (30-4, 13-0) have won the DVC title outright.

"It's a good feeling," Schreier said. "It's a tribute to all the hard work the girls put in all season and it's nice to achieve it on senior night. It couldn't happen to a better group."

"It feels awesome," said Tigers senior outside hitter Becca Zlabis, who put away a match-high 10 kills. "I'm really proud of my team. We did really well this year and it's not over."

With a victory at Naperville North tonight, WW South can be the first DVC team to finish with a spotless conference record since Naperville North did so in 2004.

On this night the Tigers scored the first 4 points en route to a strong Game 1 performance. They rode an 8-3 run to a 20-13 lead and soon wrapped up the opener on a Dayana Rodriguez ace and a Mollie Kolosky kill.

Game 2 played out tightly. Wheaton North (13-15, 6-7) held a 23-22 edge on Amy Groesbeck's kill from the right side.

But then WW South setter Annie Luhrsen went to her go-to hitters. She set Kolosky for a game-tying kill on the right side, then went to Zlabis, who produced back-to-back kills to give her team the match.

"When it comes down to crunch time, you have to go to who you know is going to put the ball way," said Luhrsen, who finished with 24 assists to go along with 5 kills and an ace.

Kolosky wound up with 8 kills and 2 blocks, while fellow senior Muriel Miller added 4 kills on a night when Schreier played all eight of his seniors.

Wheaton North coach Carole Kristensen was glad to see the Falcons push their rival.

"Overall I thought we played real well," Kristensen said. "We slowed them down and I thought they were surprised we were picking up some things. The last time we played them they took it to us."

The Falcons received 6 kills and 2 blocks from Liz Lee and 5 kills from Groesbeck.