Sakowicz spurs Wauconda past Lakes

Mark down a triple-double for LeAnne Sakowicz, a standout for the Wauconda girls volleyball team that's aleady won 18 times this season, on Thursday night.

Officially, that's 14 kills, 12 assists and 11 digs.

"She played really well,'' said Lakes coach Katie Cheek. "She's phenomenal."

Sakowicz played a key role in a dynamite three-set series that went Wauconda's way against the Eagles, who've won 19 games.

On Friday, Sakowicz will depart for a volleyball visit to Stony Brook University in New York, where they're interested in securing her skills.

This battle went the distance. After the teams split the first two sets, the decisive third set looked to be Wauconda's for the taking, up 24-19.

Then super setter Maddie Demo of Lakes went in to serve, and her hard-hitting teammate Megan Behrendt started to fire off some wicked shots at the Bulldogs.

It got closer before Wauconda survived this epic matchup of North Suburban Prairie teams 22-25, 25-20, 25-23.

"It was the same type of deal last year,'' Sakowicz said. "We knew that Lakes didn't make many errors, so we needed to push harder."

Wauconda has dropped just three matches this season.

"We've been working hard,'' Sakowicz said. "And we have some of the same players we had last year. We are also very blessed with height."

The third set was nip and tuck in the early going. Wauconda knotted it at 13-13 on a kill from 6-foot-2 Sara Sexton (8 kills). A Sakowicz serving ace gave the Bulldogs a 23-19 lead late.

"We were a little timid there,'' said Wauconda coach Allison Williams. "We might have been over-thinking out there."

Williams knows her club has plenty of talent on it.

"We have a strong senior class,'' Williams said. "We have some four-year kids."

In set one, Lakes (19-5) got strong play at the net from both Katie Billetdeaux and Kaylee Lebron. Despite kills from Sakowicz, the Eagles prevailed.

With libero Ashley Anderson serving in set two, the Bulldogs pulled away. One serving ace and 2 Sexton kills and Wauconda's lead was 17-10.

Cheek was pleased to see her club rally late in set three.

"This was a really tough match,'' Cheek said. "But we played all the way to the end. This team has a lot of heart. They fought to the end."

The powerful Behrendt led all hitters with 15 kills.

"They (Wauconda), knew who was getting the ball at the end,'' Cheek said. "And Megan still had 5 kills at the end of the game. She's been a phenomenal leader for us this year."

Wauconda middle hitter Haley Meyer had 5 kills and 4 blocks. Anderson, the libero, had 15 digs. Kayla Wedl added 4 kills for Wauconda.

Lakes had 12 kills from McKenna Lahr. Izzy Huntington added 6 kills. Setter Demo notched 36 assists. Lahr had 13 digs while Behrendt added 11 digs.

"We also put 8 serves into the net,'' Cheek noted.