Super ride for Lake Zurich

Standing in the student section at one end of the gym, some overly confident Lake Zurich volleyball fans started shouting, "This game's ov-er."

That was after their own Brittany Murawski, who was unstoppable all night, drove an attack that fired up her classmates during Game 3.

Her kill gave Lake Zurich the lead over Hersey - at 1-0.

Game over?

Not in this "roller-coaster" match, as Hersey senior Katie Lill described it. Lake Zurich knew better after seeing their opponent play unfazed and inspired in the middle game. The Huskies wiped out deficits of 4-0 and 10-5 deficit, after losing the losing the first set.

Finally, a kill by Lake Zurich's Audrey Bauer, who was also clutch the entire match, ended an exhilarating Class 4A sectional final at Stevenson on Thursday night.

The second-seeded Bears triumphed over the top-seeded Huskies 25-21, 19-25, 25-20 to earn a berth in Saturday's 1 p.m. Libertyville supersectional. Lake Zurich (33-6) will play Glenbrook South, which was a 25-23, 25-17 winner over the host school in the Evanston sectional final.

It was the third straight three-game win for Lake Zurich.

"We like to make it intense, I guess," said Murawski, who delivered a match-best 17 kills on 37-of-37 hitting.

Lake Zurich put on a digging clinic to end Hersey's magical season at 35-4. Jenn Grunden (28 digs), Alex Karigan (24) and Amanda Orchard (20) kept balls alive all match for the Bears.

"They were just completely scrappy," said Lill, who hammered a team-best 13 kills. "There were plays where I thought for sure (the ball) was going down. I like cheered, and then the ball came back over the net. It was just shocking."

Lake Zurich's defense was evident at the net, too. The 6-foot Bauer notched 5 blocks to go along with 5 kills, while fellow 6-footer Orchard was also a wall with 3 blocks.

"That was our goal - defense, blocking," Murawski said. "We tried speeding up our offense."

Hersey enjoyed an 18-15 lead in Game 1, but Bauer's well-placed softly hit kill started Lake Zurich on a 6-point run, which she ended with another kill.

When Hersey couldn't dig an Orchard attack, the Bears had Game 1.

"The intensity was high," Hersey coach Nancy Lill said. "I give Lake Zurich credit. They played hard from the start. Actually, we played a great first game up until 18 points. Then, all of a sudden, the roof caved in and they got a strong run. We didn't react to their chips and some of their shots."

An ace by Murawski had Lake Zurich up 10-5 in the second game, but middle Maddie Swan (7 kills, 4 blocks) helped spark Hersey's comeback that forced a decisive game.

"Even when we were up 10-5, I said, 'It's probably going to go three, girls,' " Lake Zurich coach Matt Aiello said. "Then I said, 'It doesn't have to go three, but it probably will, because that's one heck of a volleyball team on the other side.' "

In a seesaw third game, fittingly, Hersey led 11-9 before Bauer and Murawski took over at the net, giving the lead back to the Bears, who wouldn't relinquish it.

Huskies setter Joanna Hoffman handed out 36 assists (82 of 83).

"Their setter is fantastic, and their middles are very deceptive," Aiello said. "They run at a little bit of different speed than what you're used to and to each of their setters' abilities. And you got to focus on Katie Lill and their other outside (Christine Solans). They're awesome hitters."

Hersey players wore T-shirts this season that read, "Leave a Legacy."

"These seniors," Nancy Lill, "did."