Girls volleyball: Schaumburg Christian’s 26-win season ends with supersectional setback
As his team got set to begin pregame warmups for their Class 1A Marian Central Catholic supersectional bout with Stockton, Schaumburg Christian coach Steve Burmaster relayed an important sentiment for his team to follow — appreciate the moment.
After all, it was the program's second time in program history advancing to the final eight with the previous one coming in 2016.
"We're only one of eight teams (in 1A) still playing. Eenjoy it," Burmaster said.
On the opposite side of the Landers Pavillon court was a confident Stockton club from northwest Illinois seeking a second consecutive trip to the state finals where it took second a year ago.
After making the 93-mile trek to Woodstock Monday afternoon, the Blackhawks earned the right to make another lengthy voyage (178 miles) to Illinois State University's CEFCU Arena in Normal after defeating Schaumburg Christian 25-11, 25-20 Monday evening.
Stockton (35-5) will play in Friday morning's first semifinal at 9 a.m. vs. Wayne City supersectional winner Norris City-Omaha-Enfield (38-2), a 25-10, 31-29 winner over Okawville (27-13).
"We had a two-hour bus ride, so I feel like we were a little flat-footed early," Blackhawks coach Maddie Pontius said. "But they showed up and gave 100%. They knew what they wanted. I'm so thankful and I'm so proud of them."
With a 6-5 lead in game one, Stockton used a series of digs to launch a 14-2 run that gave them separation led by a pair from junior setter Kaydra Wright that left them ahead 20-7.
Wright also added a kill and 3 assists, and sophomore opposite hitter Sadie Johnson's kill earned set point.
The Conquerors (26-5) showed their mettle in the second set as they fought back twice from deficits of 14-8 and 19-14 thanks to a trio of blocks at the net from senior opposite Aiya Ladero.
Those allowed sophomore outside hitter Giada Falco's dig from a feed by fellow soph Elizabeth Tomasek to get Schaumburg Christian within 20-18.
Unfortunately, consecutive kills by Johnson, sophomore Emma Eisfeller, and three from junior middle hitter Taylor Haas including match point put an end to Schaumburg Christian’s hopes.
Haas' 7 kills led Stockton followed by 5 each from Eisfeller and junior outside hitter Ireland Mensendike. Wright had 11 assists in the winning effort.
Schaumburg Christian junior Madison Gross joined Tomasek with 3 kills each while third-year player Sarah Perfanov added 3 aces.
Ladero, one of two seniors on the squad with Olivia Hoyos, credited her young teammates’ growth and maturity for their success.
"These girls have already shown much better leadership even though they are younger than us,“ Ladero said. ”They've been acting like seniors."
Burmaster liked what he saw from his team in defeat, especially in the second set.
"They righted the ship and played a lot better and I was proud of them,“ Burmaster said. ”Little by little we've been improving our schedule. It just takes getting better playing teams like (Stockton)."