Wildcats prove better late

The Schaumburg girls volleyball team had just dominated the second game of Thursday's Class 4A sectional final at Buffalo Grove.

As Libertyville senior Emma Melendez walked off the court and to the bench, she had a message for the rest of her team.

"We are so much better than that," she said.

The Wildcats went back on the court and proceeded to prove Melendez correct.

The Wildcats, who won the first game 25-22 before dropping the second 25-11, controlled play for a 25-19 victory in the decisive game.

The No. 2 Wildcats (33-6) move on to play Maine South at 6 p.m. Monday at Hersey in the supersectional. This was the Wildcats' second consecutive sectional championship.

Libertyville advanced to the sectional final against Schaumburg by defeating Conant 25-15-, 25-17 earlier Thursday.

For awhile in the second game against Schaumburg, it appeared as if Libertyville might have an easy time of it. The Wildcats led 8-4, forcing an early Schaumburg timeout.

The No. 1 seeded Saxons (30-8) enjoyed complete control of the rest of the game. Schaumburg took its first lead at 9-8 and never looked back. The Saxons had a large and loud student section, and at times it appeared to rattle the Wildcats.

"Their fans got in our heads a little bit," Libertyville senior Ali Haws said. "We weren't talking as much and it seemed like we shut down."

Libertyville senior Lexie Gibbons said the Wildcats briefly lost focus.

"We made it interesting," she said. "They got in our heads."

Melendez and coach Chris Trzyna got in the Wildcats' heads prior to the third game. Trzyna liked the mindset the Wildcats brought back to the court for the third game.

"They never lost confidence," she said.

After falling behind 2-0, the Wildcats took an 8-4 lead. Libertyville enjoyed a 19-9 advantage before Schaumburg went on a mini-run.

The Wildcats played tremendous defense all match and minimized their hitting errors.

Haws and junior Emma Mach led the attack with 11 and 8 kills, respectively. Gibbons contributed 6 kills.

Senior Erin DeMarco had 27 assists. Senior Jenny Caren (11 digs) and Melendez (8 digs) kept countless points alive.

"We believe so much in each other," Trzyna said. "We're a true team on the floor and not everyone can say that."

In the first game, Libertyville led 14-7 before Schaumburg mounted a comeback. Clinging to a 19-17 lead, Libertyville ran off five consecutive points. Schaumburg closed it to 24-22 before a kill by Gibbons secured the game.

Instead of pounding the ball, Gibbons tipped it over the block, and the ball landed in front of the Saxons' back row.

"They had huge girls and I didn't want to hit into the block," Gibbons said. "We've worked a lot on being smart with the ball."