Girls volleyball: Crystal Lake Central stops Jacobs

It took awhile for Crystal Lake Central to find its rhythm and flow Wednesday.

Once they found it, the Tigers were almost unstoppable.

Central made quick work of Jacobs with a 25-13, 25-13 win in the teams' Fox Valley Conference volleyball tournament semifinal to secure a spot in Thursday's championship match.

Central (11-1) can put the final touches on a perfect FVC season with a win over Crystal Lake South in the tournament final at 5 p.m. Thursday at Central Fieldhouse.

The Tigers have won nine in a row since losing to nonconference opponent Belvidere North in their third match of the COVID-19-shortened season.

"Hopefully we can just keep playing our game," said senior middle blocker Madeline Timmerman, a four-year varsity player. "I'm just excited for one last hurrah. I really love the team this year. We really connect and have a great dynamic. I'm excited to see what we can do together one last time."

Central, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, ended the first set against Jacobs in a flourish, scoring 15 of the final 17 points. Lauren Klutke had a service run of eight consecutive points, and Madeline Timmerman, McKenna Timmerman and Maddy McCormick combined for 18 points in the opening set.

"I think we just really got our energy up," McKenna Timmerman said. "We were all communicating with each other on who has what, and Corynne [Hausler] was running the offense really well. I'm just excited to be a part of this team and see how far we can go. I really have a lot of faith in us. ... If we just keep working together, I think we can do it."

Hausler, a freshman, had 18 assists, an ace and a kill. She connected well with her attackers, especially the Timmerman sisters. McKenna Timmerman had eight kills, three aces, two blocks and four digs, and Madeline Timmerman had seven kills and five blocks.

"She knew they were hot, so she kept feeding them the ball," Tigers coach Lisa Brunstrum said. "Whether it was slides or quicks or four balls to the outside, she was able to execute it."

Maddy McCormick provided four kills and two aces for the Tigers, Klutke had a kill, five digs and 16 service points, and Karina Simatos added 18 digs and two aces.

Jacobs coach Gary Granell said his team had trouble getting into the flow of things.

Ireland Van Stone led Jacobs with three kills. Isabella Spychala and Maggie Wallenberger both had two. Jaclyn Poirier had two aces, Meredith Giustino had six digs and two aces, and Rachel Kaczorowski had eight assists.

"They served well and kept us off the net," Granell said of Central. "We were very predictable because we weren't passing the ball, so we couldn't run our middles. When the blockers know where the ball is going, it's easy to get there and put up a block. I wish we would have passed more and made things a little more tougher."

The Eagles (6-5) will host Hampshire for third place at 5 p.m. Thursday.

"These guys have shown heart all year," Granell said. "Last night [in a victory over Cary-Grove], we played with a lot of enthusiasm and we played with a lot of intensity. We were lacking that tonight. I think we were a little bit shellshocked."

Brunstrum is excited to get one last match at home.

"Normally, you play a postseason tournament and you're never quite sure when the last match is going to be. But you always want one more," she said. "To play for the conference championship on our own court is something we've been working for all season.

"I'm happy our seniors to get that opportunity and they can have some closure this year. To get to watch them play one last night together is huge."