C-G falls to CLC for title; Elgin, Jacobs play steady
Every time the Cary-Grove girls volleyball team would inch closer to Crystal Lake Central, the Tigers would knock them back down.
The Trojans, who cruised through pool play of the Jacobs Golden Eagles Invitational Saturday, could not get past the defending Class 3A state champs falling 25-19, 25-22 in the championship match.
"It just seemed like it was one step forward, two steps back," said Cary-Grove setter Abbey Heredia, who was an all-tournament selection. "The little stuff all added up in the end."
Cary-Grove (5-1) made things much more interesting in Game 2 after failing to gain a lead in Game 1. A Central (5-1) hitting error tied things up at 17 and then a block kill from all-tournament selection Kelly Lamberti tied it at 18.
Central then got a boost from Julia Paulson, who broke the tie and gave Central the lead for good.
"Central was able slow the game down in their heads," Trojans coach Patti Langanis said. "We weren't able to think on our feet. The game was played too fast in our heads."
Allison Straumann finished with 6 kills and 12 digs in the championship match for the Trojans. Cary-Grove defeated Elgin (25-11, 25-21), Rockford Boylan (25-16, 25-20), Round Lake (25-22, 25-4) and a solid Hersey team (25-23, 25-16) in pool play.
Cary-Grove lost its momentum in the finals.
"For a championship match, you hope to bring your best and we didn't," Langanis said.
Jacobs (3-3) closed out the day with the only 3-game championship-level match. Unfortunately for the Golden Eagles, Boylan (5-2) edged out the hosts 25-21, 22-25, 25-22 to take the consolation championship. Lauren Pigatto finished the final match with 13 kills. Pigatto and Amy Cavanaugh were named to the all-tournament team for the Golden Eagles. For the day, Pigatto had 40 kills, 6 blocks, 7 aces and 59 digs. Cavanaugh contributed 16 kills and 54 digs.
"Lauren Pigatto lit it up," Jacobs' coach Lisa Dwyer said. "I told them to keep running the slide, keep running the slide. They're not blocking her."
Elgin (3-3) finished the day on a high note taking the 7th-place match from Belvidere (1-6) 25-15, 25-18. Kendall Martin (31 kills) and Lindsay Morrow (18 digs) were both named to the all-tournament team for the Maroons. Elgin also played one of its best games of the tournament against eventual second-place Cary-Grove.
Down 21-16, Elgin battled back to 23-21, before the Trojans ended the game with a service error and a kill from Lamberti.