Vernon Hills keeps share of Prairie lead
Tightly contested North Suburban Conference Prairie Division girls volleyball matches seem to be happening regularly.
Vernon Hills maintained its share of first place Wednesday by outlasting visiting Wauconda 15-25, 25-21, 25-17.
The Cougars (12-7, 3-0) received 10 kills apiece from Megan Meline and Jenn Claussen and nine from Shannon Nugent. Rachel Lira added 4 kills and a team-best 4 blocks, while Sarah Lehman set 52 of 54 with 30 assists.
Meline also delivered 5 aces on 16-of-19 serving. Nugent contributed 3 blocks, as well.
Erinn Hellweg had 13 kills and 3 aces for Wauconda (12-6, 2-2). Megan Tallman’s night included 10 kills, 11 assists, 8 digs and 2 aces. Susan Karhoff also dished out 11 assists for the Bulldogs. Ali Morrison pounded 4 kills and served 2 aces, and Rebecca Thiltgen totaled 8 digs.
Antioch d. Grant: Jessica Ploss pounded 8 kills, and Brianna Grant and Elena Kelsh each had seven, as the Sequoits rallied for a 20-25, 25-20, 25-15 win in a North Suburban Prairie thriller.
Antioch (8-6, 3-0) also got 29 assists from Marissa Grant, while Brianna Grant served 6 aces, too.
“We struggled finding our rhythm in the first but came back in the second set after being down early,” Antioch coach Glen Heitman said. “We played even up early in the third set before pulling away. Brianna Grant served strong and played solid defense to lead the way. Jessica Ploss played her usual strong game at the net.”
Bethani Jacobsen and Beka Couch had 5 and 4 kills, respectively, for Grant. Scottley Sandnes had 6 digs for the Bulldogs, and Anna Panasenko posted 2 blocks.
Lakes d. North Chicago: Emily Aigner was 8-for-8 hitting with 6 kills and Sarah Horner (9 of 12) added five for the Eagles, who won the North Suburban Prairie match 25-7, 25-12.
Lakes (11-4, 3-1) also received 5 aces from Stephanie Reed and four from Lindsay Meverden.
Lake Zurich d. Zion-Benton: Amanda Orchard pounded 8 kills and rang up 5 blocks, and the Bears won 25-12, 25-21 in North Suburban Lake play.
Kristen Walding lofted 14 assists for Lake Zurich (13-4, 3-0), and Layne Self chipped in 6 blocks and 3 kills.
Mundelein d. Conant: The Mustangs picked up a nonconference win, as Brittany Busscher slammed 8 kills and served 2 aces in a 25-21, 22-25, 25-17 victory.
Mundelein (9-9) also got 5 kills apiece from Ashley Dolin and Karen Chin, while Madi Wilcox and Courtney Perreault had four apiece. Dolin had 5 blocks, too. Chin set 55 of 55 with 13 assists.