Stevenson defeats St. Viator

Stevenson senior Jenna Przybyla, a three-year varsity player, didn't want her season to end the way it had the past two years.

In both her sophomore and junior campaigns, the Patriots were favored to win regional titles only to fall short, both times in close, tense matches.

This season, third time was a charm.

Bolstered by superior blocking and defense, the fourth-seeded Patriots defeated No. 5 seed St. Viator 25-19, 25-21 to claim the Highland Park regional crown.

“We knew we had to do it this year,” said Przybyla. “There was no let-up it was basically play until you die. We came out intense and played hard until the last point.”

Carlee Berland led the Patriots with 7 kills while St. Viator's Emily Leazer hammered a match high 8 kills on 17-of-22 hitting. Berland finished the match with 10 kills.

“We fought to the end,” said St. Viator coach Charlie Curtin, whose team ended at 25-11. “We lost to a outstanding team tonight. They (Stevenson) played an overall great game. They were very scrappy on defense the entire match, but I was proud of our girls, especially with their comeback.”

Indeed, after losing Game 1 and falling way behind in Game 2, the Lions rallied behind a timely kill from Julie Sweeney and an ace by Lauren Bunda to forge a 14-14 tie.

Then Stevenson coach Tim Crow called timeout and, according to Michelle Schroeder (one of the top blockers on the night along with Kierstyn Hansen), told his team to side out and take the momentum back.

The Patriots (29-8) did just that, going on a 6-0 run behind a couple of extraordinary blocks by Hansen.

A final hit into the net by Viator gave the match and the title to the Patriots.

St. Viator senior Carlyn Clevenger finished with 18 assists on 58-of-60 setting, while Stevenson junior Mackenzie Kurth was 11-for-11 on serve.

“We did a great job blocking tonight,” said Schroeder. “We came out with that mind set, started right away and kept up the momentum.”