St. Viator changes direction into first sectional final
Everything seemed to point toward post-match hugs of consolation rather than celebration for the St. Viator girls volleyball team.
Perennial power Prairie Ridge gradually pulled away to win the first game and appeared to be on the way to doing the same midway through the second game of Tuesday night's Class 3A Vernon Hills sectional semifinal.
A historic season was on the brink of coming to a close for the Lions when the match took a stunning turn. A second-game comeback was just the start to the biggest finish in program history.
And after a 17-25, 25-22, 25-18 victory, Viator (29-9) players found themselves in amid a joyous mob scene.
"It was probably the greatest feeling I've ever had in my life," said Viator senior Mary Calov, who had a big stretch at the net midway through Game 3. "There's no way I can describe it. It's amazing."
Viator will play for a sectional title for the first time in boys or girls volleyball at 7 p.m. Thursday against No. 1 Crystal Lake Central (35-3), a 25-21, 25-19 semifinal winner over Wauconda.
"I'm really proud we didn't give up," said senior outside hitter Christina Brinkman, who had 12 kills and 11 digs.
No. 3 Prairie Ridge (28-10) took an 11-3 lead in Game 2 on a kill by senior standout Taylor Brauneis.
"In Game 1 we were so worried about the scouting report and shutting down (Brauneis)," said Viator coach Charlie Curtin. "We said, 'We have to go away from it and play how we're used to playing. The girls didn't want to go out like that."
The Lions took their first lead at 17-16. A pair of kills by Brinkman and kills by Calov and setter Carlyn Clevenger erased a 19-18 deficit and on the way to a third game.
"We had the confidence we could do this," said junior Emily Leazer, who had 11 kills, 9 digs and 3 aces. "I looked around and not one of us had doubt on our faces."
The Lions wiped out a 5-2 deficit as Stephanie Rountree, Kelly Travaglio, Kelly McConnell and Lauren Bunda all played key parts in the turnaround.
"Everyone picked it up at the same time and we all worked together as hard as we could," Calov said, "because we all wanted it so bad."