Girls volleyball: Buffalo Grove downs Prospect

Claire Ferris has yet to settle on a college choice.

However, she is planning on studying business and playing volleyball is the opportunity is there.

She sure knows how to play the sport at the prep level, where she is often the top attacker for the Buffalo Grove girls volleyball team.

That was the case again on Wednesday night at the Jean Walker Field House in Mt. Prospect where Ferris put down a match-high 8 kills to help lead the Bison to a 25-17, 25-17 Mid-Suburban East triumph.

Buffalo Grove (2-1 in the East) got back to .500 at 6-6.

"Claire did a really nice job," said Buffalo Grove coach Matt Priban. "She is really stepping up. She is staying aggressive whether she is in the front row or in the back now. So we need her to keep swinging and stay focused. We expect good things from her."

"It's exciting," said Ferris, who also had 3 blocks, and aces for 2 of the match's final 3 points. "This is a good start to the season. It's good to be back there at .500 again and we want to keep climbing.

"Consistency was the key for us this match. That was our main focus. We wanted to make sure we didn't allow any big runs on us."

The Bison managed that as they rarely trailed in either set.

Senior libero Nina Masciopinto's ace gave the visitors a 7-4 lead in Set 1. The advantage increased to 10-6 when senior Maggie Streckert (18 assists, 5 kills) quick set classmate Abby Kim (3 blocks) for a kill.

"Maggie was giving everyone the chance for kills, " Ferriss said. "And we were putting them down."

Senior Lauren Horvath compiled 5 kills with 2 blocks for BG while sophomore teammate Shannon Coglianese put down 3 and had a pair of blocks.

"Shannon is playing outside," Priban said. "She has been improving a lot and getting a lot of good swings on the ball, especially the last few days which has been nice to see."

Bison fans were happy to see another early lead in Set 2.

Back-to-back kills by Ferriss made it 5-2. The Bison led 7-4 on an ace from Steckert.

Prospect (3-5, 0-3) got back to within 7-6 on a kill from Annie Wiley.

But moments later, back-to-back blocks from Coglianese and Horvath made it 10-6

Prospect never got closer than 2 points the rest of the match as BG gradually pulled away.

Masciopinto and Kristen Belias led the back row with 12 digs apiece.

"I really feel like we're playing well right now but we still have a lot of potential which we haven't quite hit yet," Priban said. "I feel like we have a lot more to give. And at some point we are going to find that place and get on a run."

The Prospect offense, set by Sarah Skaggs (14 assists, 1 ace), was led by Emma Cogan (4 kills), Grace Cacini (3), Elizabeth Abraham (3), Sloane Petlak (2) and Wiley (2).

Mia Farraday and Skaggs each served an ace.

"This was better than the night before (two-set loss to Hersey)," said Prospect coach Laura Gerber. "But we're still not where we want to be. Our serve receive is getting better but it's still stopping us from running our offense. Until we can pass, we can't run our offense.

"Buffalo Grove has some really nice players and size. Hopefully we can get it together as the week progresses and start playing our game instead of being so timid."