Fremd gaining late momentum

Fremd continued to make its late-season statement as a top threat in the girls volleyball state playoffs by taking second-place in the Lake Park Invitational on Saturday.

After winning their first four matches, the Vikings (25-10) fell in the title match to Naperville North (31-4), the Daily Herald's No. 3 ranked team.

The Huskies pulled out 22-25, 25-22, 15-12 victory over a stubborn Vikings squad ranked No. 19.

Junior Kaitlyn Pascus (7 kills), senior Danielle Warner (5) and senior Bridget Morton (3) were top attackers for the Vikings, who received 11 assists from senior Michelle Gonnella and 10 from junior Natalie Bruck.

"Our setters did a real nice job setting the middles so they could get a lot of kills," said Fremd coach Curt Pinley, who has guided Fremd to three straight 20-plus win seasons. "Stephanie Alesi (junior outside hitter) had a great all-around match.

"And the biggest thing was Patricia Fehr's defense. She was incredible as our libero. When you're playing a team like Naperville North, to go three games and play them close is great."

The Vikings have won 12 of their last 14.

"You always want to be heading in the right direction at this time of the season," said Pinley, whose club was 5-0 last weekend in the Grayslake North tourney. "And we've been doing that."

Conant reached the 20-win mark by going 3-2 and taking third place.

Coach Peggy Scholten's Cougars (20-14) were led on attack by Michelle Kopecky (31 kills), Mandy Larsen (27) and Katherine Hozian (17) as they took their cues from setter Tricia Kutramanes, who handed out 70 assists and served 5 aces.

Georgia Kutramanes, Kopecky and Larsen each had 4 aces.

Monica Danek (28-25 serve receive, 16 digs) helped lead the defense while Meghan Melone had 28 digs and was 30-of-36 on serve receive. Top blockers for the Cougars were Hozian (12), Kopecky (8) and Kelsey Paulson (6).

Hersey (25-10) took fifth place, dropping its first game Saturday in three games to Bartlett, then defeating Glebrook South and Glenbard East.

Lauren Dembkowski (49 kills), Katie Lill (27), Ann Carroll (23), McKenzie Forbes (19) and Grace Nowack (10) were top attackers for the Huskies while Shelly Mueller handed out 115 assists.

Elk Grove Invite Elk Grove put up a third straight 20-win season and fourth in six seasons under coach Joe DiSilvio as the Grenadiers (21-14) took second place in their own invite.

Anie Fitzpatrick (30 kills), Krystina Leazer (23) and Michelle Johnson (17) led the attack as the Grenadiers went 3-2 with wins over Jacobs, Ridgewood and Richmond-Burton.

Streamwood, which defeated the Grenadiers in three games, won the title with a 5-0 record.

Kelsey Prochenski (34 assists), Amy Tranchita (33) and Jessica Condon (20) set the offense for Elk Grove. The defense was sparked by Megan Maize (53 digs, 60-of-65 serve receiving), Caitlin Garrison (31 digs, 27-of-31 serve receiving) and Katie Spychala (27 digs).

Ashley Capotosto was the Grens' leader in blocks (22) while Fitzpatrick had 10 and Leazer 9.

Buffalo Grove Invite: Immaculate Conception swept to the title with a 5-0 record while Prospect (4-1) took second and Buffalo Grove (3-2) was third.

Rounding out the field were Addison Trail (2-3), Palatine (1-4) and Glenbard North (0-5).

The Knights finished the regular season at 16-19 with wins over Palatine (20-25, 25-19, 25-21), Addison Trail (25-13, 26-24), Glenbard North (25-17, 25-15) and Buffalo Grove (25-17, 15-25, 25-11).

Rachel Hunt (28 kills, 8 aces) and Tracy Hefferan (20 kills, 4 blocks) were named to the all-tourney team.

Jackie Canonaco handed out 90 assists with 9 kills while Megan Murray had 19 kills and 12 blocks. Hillary Trebels contributed 21 kills, 11 blocks and 6 digs.

Lindsay Valentino collected 27 digs and 10 kills.

Alyssa Falk (43 digs), Lauren Mitchell (13 kills, 5 blocks) and Emily Nowicki (25 kills, 12 blocks, 5 aces) were all-tourney selections for Buffalo Grove (8-25-1), which received 28 assists from Jaclyn Sisi and 15 from Samantha McCormack.

Jillian Kazmierczak added 12 kills and 2 blocks for the Bison, who visit Barrington in a play-in regional match on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Kate Kleiva and Kaley Sierwaski were all-tourney picks for Palatine.