Glenbard South finds some pep
A huge crowd came to Glenbard South's gym Thursday for Volley for the Cure, a homecoming pep rally and a thrilling volleyball match in between.
The Raiders didn't disappoint.
Glenbard South weathered a Game 3 lull to beat Illiana Christian 25-20, 23-25, 25-23 and sweep the season series from the defending Metro Suburban Conference champ.
"I think the big crowd really fired the whole team up," Raiders sophomore Jane Trzaska said. "We were ready for this one. The crowd was getting into it and everybody was getting into it."
Glenbard South (13-6, 6-1) is in its first year in the Metro Suburban, moving over from the now broken-up Western Sun. The Raiders, eyeing their first conference title since 1998, are a half-game ahead of Timothy Christian and Illiana (18-3, 6-2).
Timothy Christian (14-10, 5-1) handed the Raiders their only conference loss last week.
"We kept our cool and regrouped," Glenbard South coach Sherry Hudson said, "and I didn't know how we were going to react. We're not used to people chasing us at the top of the conference. You never know if you're going to be prepared when teams are gunning for you."
The distraction of homecoming week always a worry, Hudson admitted the energy level at practice wasn't optimal days leading up to Thursday. The Raiders were ready game night, never trailing in Game 1. Middle hitter Mary Dodge smashed a kill to give Glenbard South the lead for good.
Kim Deprez and her 24 digs set the tone for a scrappy, solid effort in the early going.
"We were a little nervous coming in," Hudson said, "because it wasn't the best week of practice. The difference for us was probably Kim Deprez. She does all the little things. She covers short balls by the net and she goes deep. The energy was there tonight."
Glenbard South, down 16-9 in Game 2, came all the way back to take the lead at 22-21 on a Trzaska kill. Another Trzaska kill kept the Raiders within 24-23, but after a timeout Glenbard South served into the net, one of 11 service errors.
The Raiders bolted out to a 7-0 lead in the rubber game behind 3 straight Andrea Brophy aces, then watched as Illiana Christian chipped away and claimed a 16-15 lead. Five ties and two lead changes ensued before an Illiana Christian net violation pushed Glenbard South ahead 24-23. The Raiders got match point on a hitting error.
Trzaska had 10 kills and 10 digs and Sarah Engelhardt 11 kills for Glenbard South. Anna Watterson added 8 kills and Brophy 38 set assists.
"We didn't get down on ourselves when we lost the lead," Trzaska said. "It really helped that everybody stuck together, came back and fought together."