Whip-Purs claim crown at Geneva
Hampshire (30-3) lost the first match of pool play to Geneva at the Kaneland Spikefest Saturday, but the Whip-Purs' girls volleyball team returned the favor when it mattered by defeating the Vikings 31-29, 25-18 in the title match.
"I'm really proud of the way the girls played today," Whips coach Karen Whitehouse said. "That first game (31-29) seemed like the first Burlington Central match all over again. This was some of the best volleyball we've played all year."
Hampshire was led by 136 assists from setter Kara Wehrs, a total Whitehouse believed to be a school record for a tournament.
Also performing at a high level were Jena Karkos (46 kills), Amy Wehrs (45 kills), Jen Kondradt (51 digs) and Amber Ladwig (24 stuff blocks).
Dundee-Crown, Bartlett at Lake Park Tournament:ŒThe Chargers finished the weekend 2-3 against top-flight competition in Roselle. The two victories lifted Dundee-Crown (25-10) to a new school record for victories in a season.
The Chargers lost to Hersey, Glenbard East and Oak Park-River Forest and defeated both Fenton and Lakes in three-game matches.
Amanda Lutzow led the Chargers with 56 kills and 45 digs, supported by teammates Stephanie Thorsen (31 kills, 29 digs), Kathleen Collingbourne (21 kills, 59 digs) and Kate Cutinello (95 assists).
Bartlett took fourth place with a 2-3 record to earn its best tournament finish of the season.
The Hawks (16-16) defeated Hersey to make it into the winners bracket, but lost to Conant 25-22, 25-18 in the third-place match.
"For the first time this season in the match against Hersey, I could say our serve-receive looked really good," Hawks coach Jill Bergmann said. "And my setter Megan Mangahas played outstanding volleyball."
Westminster seventh in PSL:ŒThe Warriors (10-19) finished 2-3 at the Private School League Tournament Saturday to earn seventh place in the league.
"We've always been eighth, so it's nice to show improvement," said Westminster coach Guy Lum.
The Warriors posted wins against Luther North and Luther South, but were unable to upend Wheaton Academy, Walther Lutheran or Illiana Christian.
Women's soccer
Judson 3, Olivet Nazarene 2: Samantha Vestal nailed a free kick in the 96th minute of overtime as Judson University won the CCAC Tournament quarterfinal match over Olivet Nazarene (11-7-1). JU is now 10-5-1 on the year and will face St. Xavier in the CCAC Semifinals.
In the 96th minute, Judson's Emma Mugg was fouled 25-yards out of the goal as the referee awarded a kick. Vestal stepped up and sailed a kick over the wall that hit the top of the crossbar and fell into the goal for the win.
Lynsey McFarland scored JU's other 2 goals.
Women's volleyball
Bethel d. Judson: Competing in the NCCAA North Central Regional championship match, Bethel College (23-8) defeated Judson (10-19), (30-16, 30-19, 30-26.
Danielle Dull led Judson with 12 kills. JU's Carly Campioni recorded 33 assists and Deb Leganski had 14 digs.
Football
Driscoll 13, Montini 7: Don't call Driscoll an underdog in a football game.
The Suburban Catholic Conference title hung in the balance Saturday, and in the first time Montini and Driscoll ever met with 8-0 records the Highlanders rallied around the underdog perception to win 13-7 at Robert A. Barth Field in Addison, in front of about 4,000 people.
"We don't back down to anyone," said Highlanders quarterback and safety David Schwabe, who passed for 157 yards, ran for 70 and excelled on defense. "They have all the Division I players, but all you need is one heartbeat and you'll be fine."
One heartbeat, 2 Brett Warren field goals and fleet defense. Driscoll held the Broncos to 128 yards, 285 below their area-best average.
"Their defense outplayed us, that was the difference in the game," said Montini coach Chris Andriano. "I thought they really did a nice job of bottling us up. We couldn't get in any rhythm."
In its defense, Montini's John McMahon, Dan Grimes and Ohio State recruit Garrett Goebel did help contain a Driscoll offense averaging 405 yards and 40 points.
But Driscoll snuffed Montini's scheme to reclaim the SCC title it last won in 2005.
Linebacker Kevin Palermo said: "We knew they liked running the bubble (screen) and spreading it out. So they put me and Adam Davis on the outsides, trying to contain that. It worked out."
Montini (8-1, 6-1) began with a 9-play, 44-yard drive, aided by a series-extending Driscoll penalty and capped by Tom DiCristina's 10-yard pass to Dex Jones. Sean Cahill added the extra-point kick.
Driscoll (9-0, 7-0) answered immediately on an 80-yard drive that produced Joey Calabrese's 20-yard touchdown catch from Schwabe. Warren's kick tied the score 7-7 at 4:04 of the first quarter.
There were close calls -- Driscoll thought it covered the ensuing kickoff and Grimes picked Schwabe off at the Broncos goal line -- but Warren's 37-yard field goal with no time left was the only other first-half scoring.
Two Montini timeouts to "freeze" Warren didn't work.
"Not really, it just took a minute or two longer," he said. "It's just nice that they did it and I still made it."
Early in the third quarter Montini had fourth-and-1 at the Driscoll 12-yard line. Schwabe blitzed unseen and untouched to nail Johnny Borsellino for a 2-yard loss.
"Once I saw Borsellino in the backfield, they usually go to him in that kind of situation," Schwabe said. "So I came up and they were going behind the big guys and I found a hole. I just filled it."
Montini missed a 38-yard field goal on its next possession then was held in its own turf the rest of the way. Warren added a 36-yard field goal at 6:21 of the fourth quarter.
"Just proud of the heart that we played with," said Driscoll coach Mike Burzawa. "The boys lived up to our tradition and just gave a courageous effort."