Jacobs shares the wealth in win over Dundee-Crown
Having a dominant hitter is nice for any volleyball team.
Having other options is very beneficial.
Jacobs is getting contributions from others and not just Alyssa Ehrhardt. And the Golden Eagles are thriving.
Maris Smith and Nikki Madoch combined for 10 kills Thursday night, two nights after the pair combined for 20, as Jacobs ended its regular season with a 25-16, 25-18 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division victory over Dundee-Crown in Carpentersville.
“It helps us,” Golden Eagles coach Lisa Dwyer said. “When (Smith and Madoch) have low kills, it makes it harder on the team and definitely puts more pressure on Alyssa.”
Ehrhardt had her usual night for Jacobs (24-11, 8-4). The junior outside hitter had a match-high 14 kills, including 10 in the second game, and 3 blocks. Smith, also a junior outside hitter, had 6 kills, 6 digs and 3 aces. Madoch, a senior middle blocker, had 4 kills and 2 aces.
The Chargers (6-24, 0-12) stayed competitive early in the opening game and led 12-11 after a Steph Magsamen kill.
Jacobs scored the next 7 points, 4 coming on D-C errors, to grab control of the game. Another hitting error from the Chargers gave the Golden Eagles the 25-16 Game 1 win.
“We played really well at first. We just cannot be consistent,” Chargers coach Tracy Williams said. “It's been that way the whole season. We play super well and stay with teams, then all of a sudden, the bottom completely falls out.”
D-C led 3-0 in the second game after an ace from Cori Eischen, who had 10 assists. A Smith kill got Jacobs on the board and then Smith served 6 straight Golden Eagles points for a 7-3 lead. The lead grew to as many as 9 at 20-11, and a Rachel Arceneaux kill ended the match as Jacobs heads into Tuesday's regional semifinal against Barrington on a positive note.
“Once our passing and defense are solid, then pretty much everything takes care of itself,” Dwyer said. “The girls stay confident and focused.”
Taylor Lauder had 20 assists for Jacobs.
Magsamen led D-C with 4 kills. Rebekah Hischke and Lauren Lococo each had 2.