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Timothy Christian digs defensive effort

Timothy Christian coach Scott Piersma jokingly calls assistant Brooks Vander Veen his defensive coordinator.

The Trojans’ strength this season has been keeping the ball in play and that was the case again Tuesday night.

Piersma and Vander Veen saw their team finish with 23 digs, including 11 by three-year starter Hanna Markewycz, during a 25-20, 25-17 road victory at Glenbard South, keeping them undefeated in Metro Suburban Conference play this season.

Piersma was quick to credit his assistant coach afterward for another strong performance on the defensive side of the net.

“He does a great job of getting our defense organized,” Piersma said of Vander Veen. “It’s been the key to us playing so well. It frustrates the other team into hitting the ball harder, or they try and tip it, which makes our job even easier.”

The Trojans have ridden that strategy to an 18-6 overall record, 6-0 in conference.

“We always say to never let the ball see the floor,” Markewycz said. “We just keep being aggressive.”

Glenbard South (23-5, 4-2) jumped out to a 10-7 lead in Game 1 as MacKenzie Watterson finished with 3 of her 7 kills during that stretch.

Timothy Christian began to connect on its attack attempts as Jenna Lodewyk and Kacie Stoll combined for 5 kills during a 9-3 run that gave the Trojans a 16-13 lead.

A Trojans service error trimmed their lead to 22-19, but the Raiders got no closer.

Glenbard South stayed close in Game 2, tying the contest at 6-6 on a service ace by Watterson that scraped the top of the net.

Timothy Christian led the rest of the way as Stoll added to her game-high kill total, tallying five more down the stretch. She gave the Trojans their biggest lead of the night at 18-10 when her attack attempt was blocked out of bounce by Glenbard South.

Juliana Stremler earned the match point when her attack attempt landed just inside the far corner.

“(Timothy Christian) pretty much outplayed us in every phase of the game, especially blocking and defensively,” Glenbard South coach Chad Grant said. “We know that’s not a strength of ours, and they kind of exposed it tonight.”

Tarah Valdez led Glenbard South with 9 kills while Riley Mullins added 4 for the Raiders.

Kaitlyn Gehrke added 4 kills and 1 block for Timothy Christian.

  Hannah Loucks of Timothy Christian and Riley Mullins of Glenbard South go up for a ball during the girls volleyball game at Glenbard South Tuesday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Hannah Loucks of Timothy Christian goes up for a ball at the Glenbard South girls volleyball match Tuesday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
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