Haggenjos, St. Edward have too much for Rosary

St. Edward senior outside hitter Kristen Haggenjos played like the seasoned veteran that she is Wednesday night in Aurora.

The Green Wave four-year starter was all over the court against Rosary in Suburban Catholic Conference girls volleyball action, registering match highs of 16 kills and 18 digs. Haggenjos' efforts were needed as St. Edward outlasted the Royals 25-21, 19-25, 25-19 to secure solo third place in the conference.

"We came out really strong, faltered a little bit in the second game and ended up playing well again in the third game," Haggenjos said. "It was a great win for us."

The mentally and physically exhausting match pitted a pair of top-notch performers for each squad; Katie Yohn augmented Haggenjos' overall brilliance, and Rosary countered with scintillating play from Kelly Hogan and Lindsey Weber.

"I play against (Hogan) in the club season, and she is an outstanding player," Haggenjos said. "For (Haggenjos) we had to use a triple block," Weber said.

In the opening game, Molly Kelly set the tone for the Wave on the first point with a block off a savage Rosary kill attempt.

St. Edward (8-10, 5-2) forged the last of eight first-game ties off a Haggenjos kill, and Yohn, who finished with 12 kills and 4 blocks, had 3 kills during a 4-point stretch that ultimately provided the Wave with its winning plurality.

Haggenjos' back-to-back second game kills threatened to make a quick night of the Royals, but Hogan had other plans. The powerful outside hitter had consecutive kills twice during a critical stretch that gave Rosary (12-7, 4-3) breathing space at 22-18.

Amelia Wegman and Hogan scored again to bring game point, and Amy Kus' kill necessitated a decisive third game.

"I told them, 'Under no circumstances do you walk out here without the win," St. Edward coach Jamie Walton said.

The charges listened. Approximating the character of the opening games, St. Edward broke free from a series of early deadlocks, taking advantage of consecutive Royals' hitting errors.

Kelly had another block-kill to give the Wave a 16-12 lead, and Haggenjos' kills not only stymied a Hogan service run but also restored the St. Edward lead to three late.

St. Edward took the largest lead of either side all night at 22-16 on another Rosary hitting mistake, and Kelly ended the match with her fourth kill.

"It feels like we're right there," Weber said.