St. Viator notches back-to-back titles

It took nearly 20 years, but St. Viator has now won two regional girls volleyball championships in a row.

The No. 2 seeded Lions, who notched a 4A regional crown a year ago, added one in Class 3A, delivering a 25-20, 25-16 victory over No. 6 Johnsburg at Regina High School in Wilmette on Saturday night.

Before last year, the Lions had only one regional crown (2005).

St. Viator became the third high school from Arlington Heights to win a regional Saturday.

Earlier in the day, Hersey won one in 4A and Christian Liberty Academy earned its first in Class 1A.

"That's awesome," said junior Emily Leazer, who drilled 7 kills and 4 aces. "Obviously, our goal was to get a regional, but we want to try and push a lot farther."

The Lions' (27-9-1) next step will be a sectional semifinal at Vernon Hills on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Prairie Ridge.

St. Viator and Johnsburg (21-16) battled back and forth for much of the first game until the Lions pulled away.

Trailing 13-11, senior Kelly McConnell (7 kills) served 5 straight points, including Leazer's kill off a 25-foot net set from Mary Calov which made it 16-13.

Leading 21-17, setter Carlyn Clevenger served the Lions to game point, getting a block and kill from Calov and a kill by McConnell for a 24-18 lead.

Johnsburg got to within 24-20 but Clevenger (21 assists, 3 aces) ended the game with a kill of her own.

"We didn't start out real strong but we picked things up and raised our intensity by the end of game," said Calov (2 kills, 1 block).

Senior Stephanie Rountree (8 digs) sparked the Lions' back row with some key digs and serve receives.

"Stephanie did a wonderful job," said Lions coach Charlie Curtin. "She had touches on almost everything."

Game 2 was tied at 6, 8, 9 and 10 before the Lions gradually pulled away.

McConnell's kill and back-to-back aces by Rountree put the Lions ahead 13-10 and they never trailed again.

"Oh my gosh, this is amazing," Rountree said of the back-to-back regional crowns. "I can't even explain it. I'm so glad to be a part of this. And our senior class has been a such a big part of it."

Senior Christina Brinkman added 4 kills and classmate Kelly Travaglio 3.

Leading 20-16, a kill by Leazer started a match-ending 5-0 run. Leazer served the final 4 points, including an ace which ended the match.

"Once I get in a groove serving, it just keeps going," Leazer said. "I was just switching zones (getting her cues from assistant coach Jimmy Neal) and trying to keep the defense off guard."

Johnsburg coach Sue Feely, a former volleyball and softball player for Peggy Scholten and Jerry Cunningham at Conant High School, made no excuses.

"St. Viator is just a better team," she said. "They've got a lot of speed."