Giesler delivers big blow

At 6-foot-2, Gretchen Giesler can be an intimidating force to be reckoned with on the volleyball court.

The St. Charles North senior middle hitter put together one of her best all-around efforts of the season at a most opportune time, recording 9 kills, 3 aces, 2 solo blocks and a block assist while leading the North Stars to their fourth consecutive regional championship Saturday afternoon in Wheaton.

After sealing her team's 25-21 Game 1 victory over Wheaton North (18-17) with back-to-back kills, Giesler delivered a punishing blow to the Falcons for the North Stars' initial point in what proved to be a 25-18 Game 2 triumph.

Courtesy of a quick set from Annie Stoermer (12 assists), Giesler sent the ball straight into the nose of Wheaton North's Leah Bridle, who left the game for a few minutes before returning.

"It is intimidating when you hit someone or ace someone," said North Stars coach Lindsay Trudell. "It's not the nicest thing in the world but you go back at that player after that and then you get people on their heels."

"When you get the set and make a big kill, you suck all of the momentum out of their team," said Giesler, who was backed by teammates Carla Tietz (6 kills, 5 digs, 2 aces), Elin Smith (4 aces, 6 digs, 9 assists), Rachel Huber (5 kills), Karlie Giesler (5 kills) and Caitlin Winkelman (12 digs).

"Coming into the second game, the kids were ready to go and I thought it was a little bit of a downer when Leah got hit," said Falcons coach Carole Kristensen. "We got thrown off a little bit."

St. Charles North (25-11), who will take on cross-town rival St. Charles East in Thursday's Lake Park Class 4A sectional semifinals, built leads of 12-4 and 21-13 with strong serving, including 3 consecutive aces from Smith.

"I talk so much about how this game is about momentum," said Trudell. "We started off against Lake Park down 5-0 (earlier in the day's semifinal match) and you can't do that because when you do that against Wheaton North or a team in the sectional, you never catch that lead.

"It was good that we took that lead in Game 2 because they came back. But because we gave ourselves a buffer, we were able to still play comfortably and not get nervous."

It also helped to have Gretchen Giesler on top of her game.

"She played great today," said Trudell. "It's been a long time since I've said in an interview after a game that Gretchen really changed the momentum for us. And I know Gretchen can do that every match.

"Today, it was excellent to see her do that again."

Senior Amy Groesbeck had 7 kills for the Falcons, who defeated Streamwood 25-22, 25-15 in the semifinals.

"I had seven seniors but those seniors weren't veteran players," said Kristensen. "To play in the DVC and the tough tournaments we had and finish 18-17, and play as well as we did, that's a huge accomplishment."