Libertyville recovers, stops Lake Zurich
Libertyville’s girls volleyball team had lost all its momentum against Lake Zurich late in the second set of the teams’ North Suburban Lake Division showdown Tuesday night.
Lake Zurich scored seven straight points to wipe out a 23-18 deficit and even the match at one set apiece, then bolted to 6-1 advantage in the final set.
But Libertyville rallied back and pulled out a thrilling 25-8, 23-25, 25-22 win.
Libertyville improved to 20-6 and 2-1 in the NSC Lake.
Taylor Zant’s kill pulled Libertyville even at 9-9 in the third set.
“I was very pleased that we didn’t get ourselves mentally out of the match after giving away Set No. 2,” Wildcats coach Greg Loika said. “We fought back hard.”
Kristen Webb was “a rock in the back row,” Loika added, amassing a season-high 21 digs. Libertyville received 6 kills apiece from Julie Smagacz, Ali Gattone and Kerry Risley (3 blocks). Zant finished with 5 kills, and Cindy Zhou added 24 assists and 4 kills. Eileen Knauff contributed 4 kills and 8 digs, Rhiannon Prentiss had 10 digs, and Webb served 3 aces.
“Early in the season, I’m not sure we’d have bounced back, but that is the development of this group mentally,” Loika said. “I think this will really help the girls believe they can come back from adversity.”
Tonight, Libertyville hosts Mundelein in its “Volley For The Cure” match.
Grayslake Central d. Woodstock: Klaudia Basierak slammed 9 kills, Maria Treto totaled 19 digs and Meghan Brewster dished out 17 assists on 44-of-45 setting, as the Rams won 25-22, 25-16 in Fox Valley Fox Division action.
Grayslake Central (18-8, 6-2) also got 3 kills apiece from Gabi Casper, Beth Arnold and Alex Dahlstrom. Arnold and Dahlstrom had 3 blocks apiece, too.
“Woodstock tested us early with some scrappy defense,” Rams coach Jason Janczak said. “Our girls responded with some good offense and defense.”
Johnsburg d. Grayslake North: The Skyhawks pulled out the Fox Valley Fox match, despite 8 kills apiece by the Knights’ Katie McGrath and Joanna Guhl.
Lisa Lowry (59-of-60 setting) lofted 22 assists for Grayslake North (7-18, 3-4), while Kelsey Klausner had 5 kills, 16 digs and 2 aces. Jenni Babula chipped in 3 kills.
Mundelein d. Wauconda: The visiting Mustangs won the North Suburban crossover 25-14, 25-22, receiving 3 kills apiece from Courtney Perreault, Karolina Sierzputowska and Brittany Busscher.
Ashley Dolin had 2 kills, 2 blocks and 2 aces for Mundelein (11-9). Karen Chin (28 of 28) and Madi Wilcox (18 of 18) lofted 8 and 7 assists, respectively.
Wauconda (13-8) was led by Erinn Hellweg’s 8 kills and 2 blocks. Megan Tallman totaled 9 assists and 12 digs. Susan Karhoff added 3 kills for the Bulldogs.