Front and center: Fremd tops Conant

Fremd’s Rebecca Clarke knew her opponent’s strength going into Thursday’s girls volleyball match.

“They have really great middles,” said the junior outside hitter of the Conant front line. “I was hoping I would be able to hit around them because they are really good blockers. I was really happy with how my teammates adjusted to how I had to change my attack.”

Instead of employing her usual cross-court shots, Clarke switched to more shots down the line.

With a team-high 7 kills, Clarke’s attack helped Fremd line up another win in the Mid-Suburban West.

The Vikings posted a 25-14, 25-22 triumph over the Cougars, who had won three of their last four matches in the West.

“I thought we played a very confident match,” said Vikings coach Curt Pinley, whose team (15-6, 6-2) remained two matches behind its next conference opponent, Barrington (8-0), on Tuesday. “We talked a little about cleaning up our game and coming out sharper. And the girls did a good job at that.”

Set 1 was tied at 5 when junior Nicole Obos (5 kills) served for 5 straight points and the Vikes never looked back.

Fremd opened up a 7-1 lead in Set 2 but Conant (8-12, 3-5) rallied and got to within 14-13 on 5 straight points, including a pair of aces, from senior Rachael Yordon.

Pinley called for a timeout and the Vikes responded with 2 points, the second on a block from middle hitter Jessi Wiedemann (3 kills, 3 blocks).

Conant kept it close the rest of the way, and pulled to within 18-17 on an ace by sophomore Jenn Donnell, who delivered a match-high 8 kills.

A kill by junior Claire Brady (3 kills) gave Fremd a 23-20 lead before O’Donnell slammed one off a Fremd block to cut it to 23-21.

The Vikes wrapped it up at 25-22 on freshman Lane Hindenburg’s fifth kill of the match, getting her cue from junior setter Marilyn Lortz (17 assists).

Morgan Peterson added 4 kills for the Cougars while senior Allie Bauch was 12-of-24 serve receiving.

“We are definitely getting better,” said Yordon, who was 13-of-14 serve receiving with 8 digs. “It is just everyone’s contributions that are helping us get better.”

“We have been pushing,” said Cougars Hall of Fame coach Peggy Scholten whose team has won six of its last nine matches. “We have been seeing more consistent performances.

“Give credit to Fremd this match. They serve received beautifully and controlled the net game. They are tough.”

Top serve receivers for the Vikes were Kelly Doherty (6-of-6), Nina Scott (6-of-7) and Obos (6-of-7).

Barrington d Schaumburg: Barrington (19-2, 8-0) clinched a tie for first in the MSL West with a 22-25, 25-13, 25-15 victory. Peyton Lang (12 kills), Lauren Shectman (9 kills, 4 blocks, 2 aces) and Julia Thompson (9 kills, 2 blocks) led the attack for the Fillies while Amanda Dee (12 digs) and Olivia Szuszkiewicz (11) sparked the back row.

Senior setter Lauren Dunseith handed out 32 assists with 3 aces.

Bria Hailey had 10 kills and 6 blocks for the Saxons (10-9, 4-4) while teammate Kelly Koutnik added 8 kills with 17 digs.

Hersey d. Elk Grove: Hersey (19-3, 8-0) clinched a tie for first in the MSL East with a 25-9, 25-13 that included 7 kills from Kelsey Haas and 5 from Kristen Pedersen.

Abby Fesl handed out 20 assists for the Huskies while Taylor Schill collected 9 digs. Maggie Hogen and Pedersen each had 2 blocks.

The Grenadiers (7-19, 2-6) were paced by Mallorie DeWitt’s 4 kills and 6 digs from Samantha Hopkins.

Prospect d Rolling Meadows: Senior Sage Rebecca and junior Lauren Yearian each put down 9 kills to help Prospect (9-12, 3-5) avenge an earlier three-set loss to Meadows with a 25-22, 24-26, 25-20 triumph.

Maura Benson added 3 blocks for the winners, whose offense was directed by Danielle Siwik (11 assists) and Shea Gallus (16).

Colleen Chupiek served 2 aces and Michele DiFatta had 17 digs. Carissa Weis was 19-of-20 serve receiving.

Meadows (14-10, 4-4) was paced by Morgan Keller (7 kills), Veronica Drabowski (6) and Rachel Mickey (6) while Jenny Vliet had 17 assists and 3 kills.

Buffalo Grove d. Wheeling: Alaina Murphy (8 kills), Paige Smith (6), Mary Zawlocki (5), Bailey North (4) and Kathy Hampton (4) led the attack for Buffalo Grove (11-12, 6-2) in a 25-23, 25-23 win.

Hampton also handed out 20 assists while Victoria Ito had 2 kills and 1 ace.

Emma Jensen and Kellie Kuzmanic each had 4 kills for Wheeling (3-19, 1-7).

Palatine d. Hoffman Estates: Led on attack by senior Heather Suiter (5 kills), junior Val Soderstrom (4 kills) and junior Cassie Chaplinsky (2), Palatine (9-12, 3-5) notched a 25-18, 25-19 victory. Setter Laura Kluk collected 16 assists with 1 block while Casey Dolen had 13 digs and Sarah Schiffner led in serve receive.

Junior Destinee Young (5 kills), sophomore Clare Shaffer (5 kills) and senior Becky Knapik (3 kills) led the attack for Hoffman (7-21, 0-8) while Karina Zolp (10 assists) and Ali Engelhardt (4) set the offense.

Glenbrook North d. Maine West: Glenbrook North posted a 25-16, 25-21

triumph in the CSL North match as Maine West (3-18, 2-5) was led by Katie Fitzgerald (6 kills, 2 aces) and Maddie Plantz (4 kills).