Burlington Central holds off Harvard in marathon
A match that encapsulated the ups and downs that make girls high school volleyball the action-packed thrill ride it is also typified the resolve with which the Burlington Central Rockets approach the sport.
Central's goal of repeating as undefeated Big Northern East champions teetered on the brink Tuesday night in Harvard after the Hornets, who were vying to tie the Rockets for a share of first place, won 4-of-5 points late in Game 3 to take a 24-20 lead.
What ran though the minds of the Central players when facing quadruple match point?
"We were just thinking that we're a team that never gives up," Central outside hitter Stephanie Holthus said.
The Rockets subsequently staved off 4 match points, fell behind again 25-24, then reeled off 3 points to complete a 25-27, 25-13, 27-25 comeback victory.
The win gives Central (18-3, 6-0) a 2-game lead over Harvard (15-4, 5-2) and Hampshire (23-2, 5-2) with 4 matches to play.
"I think we showed a lot of character out there," said Holthus, who finished with a match-high 19 kills and 16 digs. "We really proved that we're serious."
Trailing 24-20, the Rockets survived 2 match points, thanks to Harvard hitting errors.
Setter Molly Turk pulled the Rockets within 24-23 with a heads-up set to an unguarded corner. Central tied the match when a back-row shot from Harvard's Ashleigh Fisher, who led the Hornets with 16 kills, found the net.
Senior Ariel Listebarger gave Harvard a fifth match point when she blistered a hit down the sideline for a 25-24 lead, but the Hornets followed with a service error that allowed Central to tie.
Then an oddity occurred: for the second time in Game 3, Holthus smashed a spike with such force it ricocheted off a Harvard defender's head. Unlike the first occurrence, when Holthus' spike bounced off Marci Nystrom's face and landed in Central's end for a point that tied Game 3 at 16-16, this Holthus smash bounced off the defender and drifted over the net to Megan Zasada, who blocked it down for a 26-25 lead.
"We couldn't let them score like that again," Zasada said.
Holthus ended the match with a booming spike to keep Central undefeated in BN-E play.
"This just shows a lot of determination and never giving up," Central coach Marv Leavitt said. "I'm just so proud of this team."
Other games: Fox Valley Lutheran Academy fell to Conrerstone Christian in three games (24-15, 13-25, 25-22) despite strong efforts from Sarah Mounger (8 kills, block, dig, ace), Tegan Pfortmiller (8 kills, 2 digs) and Yuri Nakamaura (11 assists, ace)... Behind the leading efforts of Jordan Guida (26 assists), Katie Trayser (11 kills) and Erin Johnson (5 kills, 5 blocks), Crystal Lake South beat Woodstock 25-9, 25-16 in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division action... Hampshire (23-2, 5-2) continues to dominate earning a 25-12, 25-8 win over North Boone. Leading the attack were Amy Wehrs (8 kills), Chessa Osiecki (7 digs, 4 aces) and Kara Wehrs (12 assists)... Streamwood (5-15, 2-5) fell to Elgin 25-20, 25-21 in Upstate Eight Conference play despite solid efforts from Maxine Andren (7 kills). The Maroons (11-9-2, 3-3) were lifted by the play of Kendall Martin (9 kills), Ellen Holton (9 kills), Lindsey Morrow (9 digs), Abbey Houde (10 assists) and Alyssa Higdon (4 aces). Westminster Christian (8-11, 2-5) nabbed Private School League win No. 2 defeating Luther South by matching scores of 25-13, 25-13. Maureen Tyrell (4 aces, dig) and Jessica Benson (5 kills, 3 aces) led the Warrior attack... Solid offensive efforts from Allison Straumann (6 kills, 5 digs, 2 blocks) led Cary-Grove to this 25-14, 25-20 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division win over McHenry. The Trojans are now 22-3 overall and 5-0 in FVC Valley competition... By scores of 25-20 and 25-13, Jacobs (8-12, 3-2) picked up a Fox Valley Conference Valley Division win over Dundee-Crown (12-7, 2-3). Erica Liss (19 assists, 2 aces, 3 digs) and Stacie Weinert (4 kills, 15 digs) led the Golden Eagle approach, while Kelsi Cook (6 digs) led the Chargers... South Elgin (6-15, 2-5) took the front and back end of a 3-game Upstate Eight Conference battle to beat Larkin 25-12, 20-25, 25-14. Leading the Storm to victory were Hayley Bradley (9 kills, 2 digs), Alyssa Krause (7 kills, 2 digs), Genevieve Johnson (9 digs) and Kelly Reilly (3 kills, 7 digs). Jessica Harris (6 kills) and Claire Sherman (9 digs) led Larkin (5-18, 1-7)... Huntley (13-7, 4-1) battled for three games to beat Johnsburg 25-21, 17-25, 25-21 in Fox Valley Conference (Fox) competition. Timely efforts from Amy Dion (12 digs, 3 kills), Ashley Smith (9 kills, 2 digs) and Allyson Stelmach (6 kills, 9 digs) led the Red Raider approach.