St. Francis tops IC

The discussion was a detailed dialogue, but Peg Kopec made the point of her timeout clear.

"I asked them if they wanted to play," the St. Francis veteran coach put bluntly, her team trailing Immaculate Conception 15-11 in Game 2.

The Spartans responded in kind to the firm nudging, putting away the host Knights 25-19, 25-20 on Monday in Elmhurst.

Up a game, St. Francis (15-2, 6-0 Suburban Catholic Conference) dug itself a 15-11 hole. A running kill by Knights middle Danielle Remy, one of her 8 on the night, gave Immaculate Conception its biggest lead, and prompted Kopec to call timeout.

"She really wanted us to focus on what would make us a better passing team and a better defensive team," Spartans junior outside Kelsey Robinson said, "because our defense was off. She wanted us to figure out what we could do as a team to fix that. Especially our blocks. It's hard to dig when you don't have a block."

Immaculate Conception (12-5, 2-4) still led 17-13 after a Mary Kate Manion kill, but St. Francis ran off a flurry of 8 straight points to take control of the match. Robinson's kill started things and fellow outside Meg Vonderhaar's block and kill tied it and gave the Spartans the lead. A kill by Vivian Fitzgerald made it 21-17 and another Fitzgerald kill moments later set up match point.

Vonderhaar had 4 of her 10 kills in Game 2.

"We turned up the intensity there," Vonderhaar said.

Coming off a championship at the St. Viator Invitational over the weekend, Immaculate Conception gave St. Francis all it could handle early. The two teams played to eight ties in the first game, the last 16-16.

Manion had 9 kills and sophomore Judy Morris, subbing for injured setter Abby West had 20 assists. West sprained an ankle in practice Thursday and likely won't be back until at least next week.

"We gave them a run for their money," Knights coach Jean Field said. "We would have liked to get the win, but hopefully the girls will learn from this."

Libero Catherine Guido added 14 digs.

"She was all over the place," Field said.

Robinson had 9 kills and 9 digs for St. Francis. Kelsey Vorgert added 10 digs and Kristen Kelsay 20 assists.

"We just didn't have much focus tonight, not much go-get. You can't pick and choose," Kopec said. "We just have to be a little more self-motivated. I thought Immaculate Conception's defense was fantastic. We threw everything hard at them and they'd dig it right back."