Lake Forest stops Fremd

Fremd’s girls volleyball season came to an end in St. Viator’s Cahill Gymnasium on Thursday night.

But the No. 8-seeded Vikings didn’t let top-seeded Lake Forest escape without a battle.

Set 2 was tied at 22 before the North Suburban Conference champs pulled out the 25-19, 25-22 triumph in the championship match of the St. Viator Class 4A regional.

The Vikings completed another 20-plus win season under 14-year coach Curt Pinley at 26-10.

Eight underclassmen were on Pinley’s team this fall.

Jessi Wiedemann, the Vikes’ only senior starter, recorded a team-high 2 blocks against the Scouts, who advance to Tuesday’s Buffalo Grove sectional and will face Lake Zurich in the 6 p.m. semifinal.

“We threw out the challenge to the girls and talked to them about improving on this season and looking to the future in a positive way,” said Pinley, who also coaches the Vikings boys team in the spring (combined record of 642 wins, 284 with the girls). “Hopefully, they’ll take it to heart and good things will happen.”

Junior outside hitter Rebecca Clarke made a lot of good things happen this season and Thursday was no different as she put down a team-high 6 kills along with 6-of-6 serve receiving.

“Rebecca played real well in the back row,” Pinley said. ”Nina (Scott) had a nice game passing, too.”

Juniors Nicole Obos and Claire Brady each had 2 kills for Fremd.

Junior setter Marilyn Lortz handed out 15 assists and classmate Nina Scott was 13-of-13 serve receiving with 3 digs.

“We played Lake Forest well,” Pinley added. “We just couldn’t close the door.”