Antioch leaps past Grayslake N.

Aware that she was serving for both the match and a regional-final berth on her home court, Antioch senior Lauren Grant lofted the ball high, soared and took a whack.

The first jump serve of her high school volleyball career landed just long.

"Was that a jump serve?" Sequoits coach Glen Heitman chimed in while Grant was talking to reporters.

"Yeah, but you weren't looking," a grinning Grant said. "So I'm like, 'I'm going for it.' "

So much for winning in style.

The sixth-seeded Sequoits weren't flashy, period, in their Class 3A regional opener against No. 11 Grayslake North on Thursday night, but they won anyway, capturing a 25-15, 25-16 decision.

"We got done what we needed to get done," said Grant, who slammed a match-high 5 kills and also posted 2 blocks and 8 digs. "We weren't playing to the best of our ability but we played well in my eyes."

Antioch (21-15) knows it will need to play better Saturday when it takes on perennial-power Prairie Ridge (27-9) at 1 p.m. in the regional final. The third-seeded Wolves devoured Lake View 25-2, 25-3 in the evening's first semifinal at Antioch.

Sophomores Brianna Grant (2 kills) and Jessica Ploss (2 blocks) were also effective at the net for Antioch. Savana Bailey dished out 7 assists and Amber Dalgaard chipped in 7 digs.

"We played all right," Heitman said. "We played loose, had some fun. I was happy with that. Obviously we need to clean things up a little bit with our passing.

"The good thing is we didn't give Prairie Ridge much to scout."

Grayslake North (8-28) hurt itself throughout the match with unforced errors, including three to start the match and a pair to end Game 1.

"There were unforced errors (on both sides), and Antioch was good at keeping the errors more on our side than their side," Knights coach Nikki Kirchway said. "They were pretty much more in control than we were at certain points in the (match). But then there were also points that we controlled too. So it was kind of a tug-of-war."

Antioch stormed to an 8-1 advantage in Game 2 and never looked back. The Sequoits were up 24-11 when Lauren Grant pulled out the jump serve that she has been working on in practice.

"I just felt like I could try it," she said.

Grayslake North reeled off five straight points, before another error ended the match.

The Knights graduate only one senior in starting outside hitter Sarah Walker, who registered team highs of 4 kills and 10 digs. Kirchway's roster included six sophomores - including starters Sara Steinhoff, Katie McGrath and Kinsey Siler - and one freshman.

"I think we have a lot of potential for next year," Kirchway said.