Saxons top LZ second time around for title
Even though Lake Zurich's girls volleyball team fell to Schaumburg for the championship of the Hersey Invite Saturday, the Bears were able to leave the Ken Carter Gymnasium in Arlington Heights a confident team.
After all, they beat the tourney champs in the first match of pool play Saturday morning.
Coach Matt Aiello's Bears stopped Schaumburg, Montini and Glenbard North in pool play, then topped Mundelein 25-20, 19-25, 26-24 in the semifinals.
That meant a repeat match with Schaumburg (12-3), which prevailed 25-20, 25-16 for the title.
"We just got tired and stopped communicating," said Bears senior Crystal Wright, who led the Bears with 28 kills in five matches. "Five matches in one day is tough. You've just got to pull through it.
"I think our Mundelein match was out toughest match. We showed that we could beat them two days in a row, so that means we're going to show up and be ready for conference."
The Bears defeated Mundelein in a nonconference match on Friday.
The Bears are off to a 13-4 start after going 4-1 Saturday.
"If you know me, I never like to lose," said Aiello, a former all-state volleyball player for Buffalo Grove who coaches the Bison boys volleyball team in the spring.
"But at the same time, our girls accomplished all the goals we set for them (Saturday). We weren't all that concerned about coming out of here with (championship) T-shirts. We just wanted to accomplish our goals.
"I told the girls we may see Schaumburg again in the sectional. That will be a big match if we do."
The Bears had some big attackers Saturday, led by Wright, who also had 45 digs.
Junior Amber Miehlke contributed 25 kills followed by Lydia Bauer (19), Jenn Grunden (18), Brittany Murawski (15) and Lisa Butzen (13).
Monica Kloep was 34-of-34 serving with 2 aces, while Melissa Miehlke was 71-of-81 serve-receiving.
"We didn't come out with our usual enthusiasm and energy (against Schaumburg in the championship)," Aiello said. "We can't do that, because they're a great team. We really didn't show up for the match and didn't give our normal performance."
At Wauconda: The host Bulldogs went 4-1 to win the championship. Wauconda -- whose only loss was to Lake Forest Academy in three games -- defeated Round Lake, North Chicago, Grant and Marengo.
Wauconda placed Becky Breakfield and Lauren Mead on the all-tournament team.
Other all-tourney selections included Tori Ziegler of Grant and Karla Muldowney of Round Lake.
Boys soccer
Mundelein wins tourney: At Prairie Ridge, goal differential allowed the Mustangs to win the championship for the fourth year in a row.
Mundelein (5-1-3) needed to defeat Belvidere by 7 goals in its second game Saturday and did so, winning 8-1.
Adam Reister and Nestor Montiel each scored twice for the Mustangs. Nick Neubauer, Manny Olmos, Jon Dimitriou and Jesus Olmos also had goals.
Mundelein started the day by tying Prairie Ridge 1-1, overcoming a deficit as Dave Burdick converted a corner kick by Montiel.
Eric Sorby made 4 saves in goal for the Mustangs.
Carmel wins twice: The Corsairs defeated host Bartlett 4-0 and Jacobs 5-0 at Streamwood.
Edwin Lagunas and Kurt Houghton each had 2 goals and an assist against Bartlett.
Lagunas also had 2 goals and an assist against Jacobs. Carmel (7-3-2) also got goals from Houghton, Drew Wycoff and Ian Tune.
Lake Zurich 4, Lane Tech 0: In the Pepsi Showdown, the Bears got goals from Tim Kreutz, Mike Morrison, Nick Janus and Justin Pennino. Janus and Kreutz also had assists.
Taao Scarnato had 4 saves in goal for Lake Zurich (7-3-2).
Libertyville 2, Providence 1: The Wildcats won the cosolation-bracket game of the Pepsi Showdown to improve to 5-2.
Boys golf
Grant invite: At Antioch Golf Club, Maine West (330) defeated runner-up Grant (334) by four strokes.
Maine West's Ryan O'Connell and Grant's Adam Ticker both fired a 79 and were the only two players to break 80.