Girls volleyball: Geneva handles Neuqua Valley
Nothing that a little positive thinking and mental toughness can't cure.
Just ask the Geneva volleyball team.
After falling into a quick 8-2 hole against Neuqua Valley Tuesday night in the Class 4A Geneva sectional semifinals, the Vikings relied on their mental prowess to get going.
"We do mental training with Dr. (Pete) Temple so we didn't panic, we looked at each other, take a deep breath, stay inside the box, that just helps us focus," Geneva senior Grace Loberg said.
"It's a great help, it's helped us a lot. Focus on one point at a time is all you can do."
The result was a 25-21, 25-22 victory for No. 1 seed Geneva over No. 5 Neuqua Valley (27-11), sending the big crowd on the Vikings home court home happy.
The win moves Geneva (36-1) into the sectional championship match at 6 p.m. Thursday against No. 3 seed St. Francis, who beat Wheaton North in the second semifinal, 25-17, 25-17.
Geneva, who topped St. Francis in three sets last month, is playing for just the second sectional title in school history. The first came in Loberg's freshman year, and the Wisconsin recruit paced both teams Tuesday with 7 kills and 4 aces.
"It was a little bit of nerves, we were all excited for the game to start all day," Loberg said. "We had to get used to the crowd and slow down and play our game."
Two aces by Lindsey Hartline helped the Wildcats start fast. Geneva responded with a 16-3 run and didn't trail again.
"We didn't pass very well," Geneva coach Annie Seitelman said of the early deficit. "It was nice to see those kids rebound from that. Once we calmed down and settled in we were able to get back in our system."
Loberg had an 8-point service run to highlight the comeback. She served three aces, and junior Molly Lambillotte provided a spark with 3 kills in the first set.
Payton Bellano's one-arm, diving dig led to an Ally Barrett kill that gave the Vikings the lead for good. Loberg capped the set with a stuff block.
Lambillotte ended up tying UConn recruit Barrett with 5 kills. Ally Mullen added 4 kills and 3 blocks - a little too much firepower for the Wildcats to match.
"We knew what they had and they are just powerhouses," Neuqua Valley coach Kelly Simon said. "They are an exceptional team and we hope they go on and win state. We've been really successful this season and felt good coming in."
The second set played out in opposite fashion as Geneva scored the first 6 points. Bellano, who led both teams with 8 digs, set Lambillotte for a kill. The Vikings extended the advantage to 10-2 on Mikayla Lanasa's tip. The senior setter finished with 16 assists.
Neuqua Valley fought back twice, first to tie the score at 16 on Kora Kauling's ace.
Geneva again pushed with Loberg slamming a pair of kills, then a Lambillotte block took the Vikings to match point at 24-19.
The Wildcats - who were led by Lauren Coffman (5 kills, 6 digs), Maria Mayhew (3 kills, 5 assists), Kauling (2 kills, 7 assists), Shannon Skryd (2 kills), Lauren Young (2 kills), Cailynn Berg (3 aces) and Nora Meehan (4 digs) - fought off three match points before finally succumbing.
"This team has fought and rallied all season," Simon said. "We knew we could get some points in rally situations and we did. We were ready tonight and gave it our best shot and fell short. Credit to Geneva."