Elgin hangs on to down Storm; Hampshire rolls
Elgin girls volleyball coach Keith Foster wants his team to find a killer instinct.
The Maroons' tendency this season is to allow teams back into games or matches after they have had a big lead.
They did it again Tuesday against South Elgin, but were able to hold on to beat the Storm, 25-21, 19-25, 25-21.
"It seems that we can't get over that hump and beat teams. We bring it down to the end," Foster said. "We're learning how to finish and that's a big deal with a team with only three seniors."
Elgin (9-8-2, 1-2 Upstate Eight) led 18-11 in the deciding game before the Storm scored the next 8 points, the last three coming on three consecutive errors by the Maroons, to take a 19-18 lead.
With the game tied 21-21, the Storm (1-9, 1-3) made back-to-back errors. An Ellen Holton block gave the Maroons a 24-21 advantage and match point. Holton then hit her ninth kill to give Elgin the victory.
"We've got to stop the runs because that hurts us," Foster said. "We kind of get comfortable with leads. We start doing things differently."
Storm coach Joni Melahn said errors committed by her team proved costly. South Elgin gave the Maroons 33 points on unforced errors, including 10 service errors.
"We're the reason we lose matches," Melahn said. "I give Elgin a lot of credit, but if you look at our unforced errors that's basically giving them the match."
The Maroons took a 19-10 lead in the opening game thanks to an 8-0 run, which was capped by a Holton ace. The Storm crawled back to within 5, 21-16, but did not get any closer. A South Elgin service error on game point gave the Maroons the Game 1 victory.
Neither team led by more than 4 points in Game 2. An ace by South Elgin's Tara Bradley gave the Storm a 24-21 lead before an Elgin kill attempt went into the net as South Elgin took Game 2.
"We came back and that showed a little something from my team," Melahn said. "Right now it's about us not beating ourselves."
Holton and Kendall Martin each had 9 kills to lead Elgin. Hayley Bradley's 8 kills paced the Storm. Tara Bradley finished with 17 assists.
Cary-Grove d. Jacobs: Fox Valley Conference coaches beware. You have 3 years to find a way to contain Cary-Grove sophomore outside hitter Kelly Lamberti.
Jacobs didn't have the answer Tuesday night.
Lamberti's 9 kills, 3 aces and 16 digs helped the Trojans start Fox Valley Conference Valley Division on a positive note with a 24-26, 25-12, 25-15 win over Jacobs in Algonquin.
"Our passing tonight was very good," said Lamberti. "I got the ball in good position to hit. In the second game, we came out and worked harder. We played much better the second and third games."
Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis realizes Lamberti is only going to get better over the next 3 years.
"Kelly played very well tonight," said Langanis. "She got some key points and served very well. She really got the offense going. She hasn't reached her potential yet."
The Trojans (18-3, 1-0) also got a much-needed boost from junior Kayla Klinger off the bench. Klinger blasted 5 kills and served 2 aces.
"Kayla hasn't played much on the varsity this year," said Langanis. "She gave us an emotional lift. She stepped in and played well."
Upset-minded Jacobs (5-11, 0-1) was the aggressor in Game 1. The Golden Eagles took the lead for good when Lauren Pigatto blasted a kill to give Jacobs a 20-19 lead. The Trojans tied the game at 24 on a kill by Klinger. But the Golden Eagles refused to lose and scored the next 2 points to win the initial game. A kill by Amy Cavanaugh gave the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead in the match.
Cary-Grove started fast in Game 2. A kill by Colleen Hargrove gave the Trojans a 9-3 advantage. Jacobs climbed to within a point 12-11 on a kill by Pigatto but the Golden Eagles couldn't get any closer. A kill by Klinger knotted the match at 1-1.
In Game 3, Jacobs held an early 7-5 lead but the Trojans came roaring back. A 14-2 run spearheaded by 4 kills by Allison Straumann and 2 aces by junior reserve Casey Grochinski turned a 2-point deficit to a 10-point, 19-9 advantage. The Trojans never looked back as Lamberti collected a kill to give the visitors the game and match.
Pigatto led Jacobs with 7 kills and 8 digs.
"Our girls fought hard, but we didn't pass the ball well in the third game," said Jacobs coach Lisa Dwyer. "You could see it Cary-Grove was mentally tough in the third game. "
-Dave Hess
Burlington Central d. North Boone: Burlington Central (14-3, 2-0) earned this Big Northern East win in two games by scores of 25-12, 25-7. Audrey Djukic's strong serving (7 aces, 14 service points) led the way for the Rockets, while Stephanie Holthus (10 kills, ace) and Molly Turk (8 kills, 17 assists, 3 blocks) contributed.
Bartlett d. Waubonsie Valley: After taking the opener 25-20, Bartlett fell 25-14 before closing this match out with a 25-22 victory for an Upstate Eight Conference win. With 16 kills, 9 digs, 3 aces and 2 blocks, Carly Sahagian led the way for Bartlett. Alyssa Cazzato (31 assists) also contributed.
Crystal Lake South d. McHenry: Led by Jordan Guida (28 assists), Katie Trayser (7 kills), Kali Loescher (8 kills) and Lena Mack (12 kills), Crystal Lake South earned this 25-22, 25-6 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division win on the road.
Streamwood d. East Aurora: By scores of 25-20, 25-19, Streamwood (5-10, 2-1) took this Upstate Eight Conference meeting over East Aurora. Leading the attack for Sabres were Betsy Holman (5 kills, 3 blocks, 2 aces, 6 digs), Adriana Salgado (14 assists) and Melissa Oehlerking (5 kills, 7 digs).
Huntley d. Grayslake North: Opening Fox Valley Conference Fox Division play, Huntley (10-6, 1-0) picked up this 25-8, 25-16 victory over Grayslake North behind solid efforts from Toni Jaehnig (6 kills, ace, 2 digs), Ashley Smith (7 kills) and Amy Dion (10 digs).
Dundee-Crown d. Woodstock: With key play from Stephanie Thorson (14 kills), Alyssa Sarrazine (6 kills) and Katie Cutinello (21 assists), Dundee-Crown took this Fox Valley Conference Valley Division opener in three games by scores of 25-23, 23-25, 25-21.
St. Charles North d. Larkin: After winning the opener, Larkin (5-12, 1-3) dropped two straight to fall to St. Charles North (19-25, 25-17, 25-18) in Upstate Eight Conference action. Amanda Lye (5 kills), Jessica Harris (13 kills) and Liza Smithberger (16 assists, 2 kills) led the Royals.
Timothy Christian d. Westminster Christian: Jessica Benson (5 digs, 3 kills, block) and Hannah Graves (5 assists, 3 digs, block), led Westminster Christian (5-9, 0-2) in this 25-17, 25-21 Private School League loss.