Girls volleyball: Glenbrook South tops Warren to take Libertyville title

Glenbrook South girls volleyball coach Kelly Dorn, now in her seventh season, says one of her team's goals is to always win early in the season.

"That's in order for us to set up for a good postseason," she explained. "Because everything we do is building up for the state tournament. As many wins as we can get early sets us up for success later."

So far, that one goal has been performed to perfection.

The Titans made it seven straight wins without a loss to start the season, including five at the Libertyville tournament which they wrapped up on Saturday with a 29-27, 25-11 triumph over Warren in the championship match.

Just one year ago, the Titans were third in the same 16-team event.

Warren coach Yun Chen couldn't recall the last time the Blue Devils played for a title in the tourney.

"It was definitely an experience we won't forget," he said. "Glenbrook South is a solid team. and we will be taking the experience of this weekend into next week when we host Lakes, and at the Summer's End tourney where we will be in the same pool with Glenbrook South."

The Titans' title on Saturday was their first in the tourney under Dorn, whose team placed second a few times in five appearances in the long-running event which started some 30 years ago.

"We're feeling really good and excited to see what is coming," said Dorn, whose team lost to third-place state finisher Barrington in the sectional final last fall.

Chen's Blue Devils (6-1) got to the title match with a 25-16, 25-22 semifinal triumph over the host Wildcats.

Top attackers for Warren in the five-match tourney were Ruth Ziegler (33 kills), Lauren Shaw (32), Lauren Schilz (22) and Gabrielle Brewer (15). Leading the defense were Brewer (30), Lauren Shaw (27), Lauren Schilz (21), Lindsay Goldman (15), Ruth Ziegler (10) and Maddie Wojdyla (9).

Brewer connected for 10 aces followed by Ziegler (6), Schilz (4) and Lauren Shaw (3) while Ziegler had 4 blocks and Brewer 2.

Brewer set the offense with 87 assists.

Glenbrook South's top attacker in the tourney was Northwestern commit and 6-foot-1 junior outside hitter Ava Pratt.

"She's fun to watch and a great teammate," Dorn said. "She has a great all-around game."

Titans defensive specialist Ambria Olds had a great tournament in the backcourt.

"She played lights out," Dorn said of the senior. "After a rough start in our first set on Friday, she really turned it up and played defense out of her mind. The ball did not hit the floor."

Traditional North Suburban Conference powers Stevenson (3-3) and Libertyville (4-2) took the floor for the third-place match.

Coach Tim Crow's Patriots claimed a 25-16, 25-21 decision over the Wildcats, who were led in the match by Keira Kasten (5 kills), Hannah Fleming 4 and Lily Evans (3). Kasten led Libertyville with 7 kills in its semifinal loss to Warren followed by Fleming (5) and Ashley Branford (4). Jaimie Marquardt dished out 15 assists.

Stevenson leaders were: Brynn Smith (26 kills, 3 aces, 21 digs), Mija Jegers (38 kills, 8 aces, 24 digs), Abby Minin (32 assists), Rachel Shin (59 assists), Sasha Evenko (12 kills, 5 blocks), Ava Wysocki (6 kills, 5 blocks), Cayla Weisner (9 kills, 9 blocks), Allison Katnibikov (10 kills, 5 blocks), Teagon Ohlwein (13 digs) and Abby Austin (25 assists, 3 aces).

"We had a tough Saturday after a long week of competition," said Wildcats coach Greg Loika. "We struggled from the service line and in first contact which made us pretty one dimensional. We just couldn't build much momentum. We'll get back in the gym and retool our serve and pass game to be ready for tough matches this week against Carmel and Fremd."

Lake Zurich topped defending champion Deerfield for fifth place while Grayslake Central defeated Carmel for seventh.

In the ninth-place match, first-year Mundelein coach Caleab Campbell's Mustangs (4-2) topped Grant.

Mundelein was led in the tourney by sophomore setter Norah Emso (71 assists), junior Josilyn Wadas (42 kills) and senior Bella Feijoo (31 digs).

"I am very happy with the efforts that our athletes put forth this weekend," Campbell said. "We are continuing to make improvements each time we compete. The competition we saw the past two days was top-notch and I feel our athletes rose to the occasion to set a new precedent of Mustang volleyball."

Evanston defeated Wheeling for 11th place, Grayslake North topped Lakes for 13th and Niles North got past Wauconda for 15th.