Stevenson slugs it out against Mundelein
Fresh in the minds of the Stevenson girls volleyball players was that loss in Mundelein on senior night.
The Patriots knew exactly how good the Mustangs were heading to the regional title match Thursday night on Stevenson’s home floor.
Stevenson junior Rachel Baader was full of compliments for the Mustangs after her Pats (29-8) went 3 sets to stop Mundelein 23-25, 25-18, 25-18.
“They are amazing,’’ Baader said. “They are great. We came out slowly tonight and Mundelein beat us. But in the second game, we got our blocking going.”
Mundelein coach George Dressen felt his Mustangs (21-15) were ready for most anything on this night.
“We came out aggressively and were able to stick with it in the first game,’’ Dressen said. “And we started out well in both games two and three. There weren’t many tears after this one. Our girls felt they gave everything.”
It’s true all three sets were close. Mundelein trailed 17-14 in set one but with senior Karolina Sierzputowska serving, the Mustangs grabbed the first set.
“I know we could have played better in the first set,’’ said Stevenson coach Tim Crow. “Mundelein is such a cerebral team. They are so smart. Even in the two games we won, they were closer than the score indicated.”
Set 2 began with the visitors surging to a quick 7-3 lead. Karen Chin (8 kills), Madi Wilcox (6 kills) and Sierzputowska all had kills in an early run. But when sophomore Kara Maleski answered back with a kill for the Pats, this match was knotted at 9-9.
“Kara was huge,’’ Crow said. “It was one of her high outputs this season on attack.”
This set was still anyone’s at 17-16 but serves from McKenzie Kurth and Jamie Baranowski put this set away for Stevenson.
Set 3 was tight as well. On an Ashley Dolin kill, the Mustangs had tied Stevenson up at 13-13. However, aces from Kurth and Hannah Kay helped the Pats surge to victory.
Baader, who survived hand and finger injuries this fall, led the Pats with 11 kills.
“I’m totally fine now,’’ she said. “I’m ready to win state.”
Michelle Schroeder helped the Pats with 8 kills. Maleski added 5 kills.
Jenna Radtke and Maleski helped the blocking effort with 4 blocks.
Kurth paced the Stevenson defense with 26 digs. Setters Baranowski (14 assists) and Kay (12 assists) ran the 6-2 offense.
Mundelein’s defense was helped along by Wilcox (17 digs), Brittany Busscher (13 digs), Chin (11 digs) and Erin Howard (9 digs). Chin (14 assists) and Wilcox (6 assists) ran the Mustangs offense.
The Pats will face Hersey, a winner against Buffalo Grove on Thursday, in Tuesday’s Buffalo Grove sectional.