Lancers get even with Streamwood

Lake Park setter Katie Grouzard couldn't wait for another shot at Streamwood.

Just over a week ago Grouzard and her Lancers teammates lost to the Sabres at the Glenbard West tournament, so they were looking forward to Tuesday's rematch, a battle that counts in the Upstate Eight Conference standings.

This time around the Lancers (6-9, 2-2) played a much crisper match and swept the Sabres 25-17, 25-10. Grouzard dished out 14 assists, but just as important was her strong serving, especially down the stretch in the second game.

"The energy tonight," said Grouzard, when asked what the difference was this time against Streamwood. "Last week we had our minds on homecoming. But after we lost to them it was like, 'We have to take Streamwood next time.' We were eager for this match."

Serving played a big role in Tuesday's match as the Sabres missed 9 serves and struggled with many of the Lancers' offerings. Grouzard had 3 aces on the night, with 2 coming while she turned a 16-10 lead into a 25-10 victory by rattling off the final 9 points of the match.

"We were pretty clean tonight and it feels good," Grouzard said. "I like just to move them around on serves and this feels a lot better."

Each game was tight for awhile, with the opener knotted at 7-7 and Streamwood trailing just 8-7 in Game 2 following a Betsy Holman kill. Holman led the visitors with 6 kills and 3 blocks, but the Sabres had no answer for Grouzard's tough serving late in the match.

"Lake Park's a good team and they played really well," Streamwood coach Kevin Kwon said. "Ball control wasn't there in the second game. The girls are much better than they played tonight."

Lake Park used a balanced attack as Maddie Sommers, Kristen Danek and Chelsea Gieseke each recorded 4 kills, while Sarah Drozdowski added 3.

"We were on," said Lake Park coach Kate Clifton said. "We've been practicing hard since the Glenbard West tournament, and with us it's a lot about enthusiasm. It's usually what we do to ourselves.

"Our serve receive was on, we served well and we had fun. That's important."

In Game 1 the Sabres trailed just 20-17 after a winner from Melissa Oehlerking, but the Lancers won the next 5 points to claim the game. Drozdowski had a kill for a 24-17 lead, and Gieselke had a pair of blocks to help close out the opener.

Lake Park then used a 17-3 run to close out the second game and claim the match, with Grouzard serving for the final 9 points of the night.