Lakes levels up, claims 3A regional crown

Lakes’ young volleyball kids played like veterans again Thursday night.

Sophomore Megan Behrendt pounded 16 kills, freshman McKenna Lahr added 8 kills, and sophomore Maddie Demo dished out 20 assists, as the Eagles defeated Grayslake Central 26-24, 25-22 to capture the championship of the Class 3A Lakes regional.

Lakes (28-8) advances to the Burlington Central sectional and will play Burlington Central at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the second semifinal. Marian Central faces Regina Dominican in the first semifinal.

Aly Bathery racked up 20 digs for Lakes, while Behrendt and Demo chipped in 13 and 11, respectively. Haley Halberg contributed 4 blocks and 3 kills for the Eagles.

Grayslake Central (24-13) received 6 kills from Alex Dahlstrom and 4 apiece from Taylor O’Neil, Lexi Beckman and Gabi Casper. Casper also had 22 digs in her final high school match.

“We put up a great effort against a solid Lakes team,” Grayslake Central coach Jason Janczak said. “It’s tough to go out with a loss, especially with this great senior class we have. But I’m proud of our girls’ effort tonight.”

Glenbrook North d. Libertyville: At Waukegan, the fifth-seeded Spartans cooled off the Wildcats, winning the Class 4A regional final 25-20, 25-21.

Libertyville (26-11), the No. 4 seed, had won 21 of its last 24 matches.

Regina Dominican d. Vernon Hills: At Vernon Hills, the host Cougars fell 25-15, 25-23 in the Class 3A regional final.

Vernon Hills (8-28) got 5 kills from Val Barybina, 4 from Kasey Firnbach and 3 from Jenna Joyce. Tori Smith lofted 16 assists on 40-of-42 setting.