Elk Grove puts it all together in sweep

The middle of the Elk Grove girls volleyball offense produced 10 kills Tuesday night at Maine West.

Senior Amanda Gattone put down 6 kills and classmate Stephanie Maday added 4 as the Grenadiers won their season-opener 25-18, 25-12 in Des Plaines.

But Maday was hardly ready to credit the middle attack for the Grenadiers' sweep.

"We've been working a lot with the middle and setter," said Maday, who has made a verbal commitment to play softball for Eastern Illinois. "But we couldn't have done anything in the middle without the work of all the good passers."

Libero Olivia Roback, Stephanie Pizzo, Jessica Mueller, Leah Miller and Tara Braceros each had 5 digs to help spark the passing game.

Junior setter Jessica Condon, who was part of a 6-2 offense the last two seasons with the graduated Kelsey Prochenski, ran a nifty 5-1 offense. Condon handed out 20 assists from 53 sets.

"Jessica was a big key," said Elk Grove coach Joe Di Silvio. "We knew going into the season she was a great setter. And she showed that tonight. She distributed the ball very well."

The Warriors (0-3) and Grenadiers battled point for point in the first game until the Grenadiers pulled away at the end with a 9-2 run.

"I just think we started off with some jitters" Condon said. "And it showed a little with our serving. Then once we loosened up, we started getting some aces (Braceros led the way with 3 while Gattone had 2) and our passes and serve receive became sharper. We were smart with tip kills, so that was good, too."

The Grens broke a 16-16 tie when Braceros (4 kills) put down a nifty off-balance from near the players's sideline. She followed that with a kill off the block for an 18-16 lead.

Moments later, Roback stepped to the line with a 21-18 lead and proceeded to serve out the game, getting kills from Leah Miller, Condon and Gattone.

"It's a little different now with the 5-1 offense," said Leah Miller, a varsity players the last two falls. "Jessica is a great setter and she runs a real quick offense. That helps us a lot."

"I like it," Condon said of her new role. "Because we can run a faster offense."

In Game 2, Gattone and Mueller helped serve the Grens to a 10-5 lead and they never looked back.

Gattone finished off the match with the final 3 service points, including an ace to end it.

"We had some first-match jitters at the start," said Di Silvio, whose team will host its annual Hawaiian night a week from Thursday when Prospect visits. "We were playing a little tight. It just took a little time to work out the kinks."

Senior Maria Rozo led the Warriors with 4 kills.

"Most of our output on attack has been from Maria," said Warriors coach Randy Tiller. And just a little from everyone else. For us to do well, we need everyone to step up. We have to get in the practice gym and turn that corner.

"I did experiment in the second game with our lineup for my own education and I think that cost us. I have to find the best six players to put on the court. We have the talent."

Hersey d Libertyville: Senior Katie Lill opened up her senior season with a superb match, collecting a team-high 8 kills, and 9 digs as the Huskies won 25-18, 25-19.

Jamie Welter followed with 7 kills while Christine Solans and Maddie Swan each had 6.

Senior Joanna Hoffman ran the 5-1 offense and handed out 25 assists from 37 sets.

Bartlett d. Hoffman Estates: Bartlett won the nonconference match 25-12, 25-19 over the Hawks (1-1), who were led by Jada Stotts, (12-of-12 attacking with 4 kills along with 8 digs and 3 blocks).

Christian Liberty Academy d. Schaumburg Christian: One night after senior co-captain Taylor White served 9 straight aces to end the Eagles 26-24, 25-23, victory over host Ridgewood Baptist, CLA (2-0) came back and defeated visiting Schaumburg Christian 25-17, 21-25, 25-23.

White helped lead the way again with 7 kills while senior co-captain Amy Farmer had 6.

Schaumburg d. Larkin: Junior Emily Young had 4 kills, 6 assists and 4 aces as Schaumburg won its season opener 25-16, 25-13. Courtney Ugel, Sara Travis, Bria Hailey and Alyssa Saklak each had a pair of kills for the winners.

Stevenson d. Rolling Meadows: Stevenson won the nonconference match 25-20, 25-14 over the Mustangs (0-1), who were led on attack by Kelly Adair (5 kills) and Veronica Dobrowski (2). Emily Nelms handed out 18 assists for the Mustangs.