Hersey heats up, edges Fremd

Due to the humidity outside, the Fremd gymnasium was awfully hot.

So was the action on the volleyball floor.

In a decisive third set that was tied at every point to 10, and a total of 13 times, the final point came when Hersey junior Liz Fuerst leapt high near the outside pole and put down a kill to clinch a 26-24, 20-25, 25-23 victory for the Huskies.

It was Hersey's first win following tough losses, at home to Libertyville and at Hinsdale Central.

Senior Gabrielle Olhava added 12 kills for the winners while classmate Kelly Hill contributed 8.

"It was crazy," said Fuerst, whose match-winning kill was her team-high 14th of the night along with 16 digs, second only on the team to libero Paige Pannozo (19). "I loved it. The intensity was amazing. I love these kind of matches."

The Vikings felt the same way.

"I'm proud of how we played," said Fremd senior Lane Hindenburg, who walloped and finessed her way to a match-high 19 kills.

"It was a ton of fun," added her classmate Hope Schroeder, who provided a perfect complement with 8 kills. "We have a couple of younger players but it's mostly a senior-dominated team. I'm really excited about this season. We have really good leadership."

The lead belonged to Fremd (1-1) for the most of the first set before Hersey broke a 23-23 tie with a kill from Kelly Hill and a hitting error for the final point.

A kill by Zoe Strozewski and double block by Strozewski and Fuerst allowed Hersey (1-2) to pull ahead 9-3 in the second set.

But the Vikes answered the challenge and climbed back into a 13-13 tie on a kill by Hindenburg off an assist from senior setter Carly Roberts (32 assists, 2 aces).

"Lane had a fantastic match," said Fremd coach Curt Pinley. "She has come into her senior season really focused and so far she has been fantastic."

"Fremd is going to be a force this season," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. "Lane (Hindenburg) hits the ball hard. I'll walk away with 'W' any time against a team like Fremd."

With the second set tied at 17, the Vikes took control with a 4-0 run that included Hindenburg's back row rocket to the middle of the Huskies' side and a block by Schroeder.

Hersey never got closer than 3 points before Fremd won the set on Hindenburg's kill down the line.

Set 3 was a battle right from the get-go as it was tied on every point until Fremd surged ahead 14-10.

The Vikes' run included a kill by Hindenburg, an ace by Sarah Roberts (10 digs, 2 aces) and back-to back hitting errors.

"It was a struggle," Lill said. "It was like a boxing match the way both teams battled and luckily we came out on top at the end."

The Huskies made their final move with the scored tied at 19.

A Fremd hitting error, kill by Fuerst and Olhava's kill off an overpass made it 22-19.

Hersey ace setter Courtney Stedman (31 assists) then quick set Olhava for a kill and 23-19 cushion.

Fremd rallied to within 23-22 when Schroeder put down a kill off an overpass and Maise Koo added a block.

After a Hersey time out. the Huskies nudged ahead 24-23 on and Fuerst finished it off.

"For the second match of the season, I couldn't ask for a better match from my players," said Pinley, whose back row was led by Aubrey Stegich's 23 digs. "The match was worth the price of admission."

"It was insane," Lill said. "It couldn't have been any closer - the consummate battle."

Buffalo Grove d. Barrington: The Bison (4-3) received 2 kills from senior Alicia Kantor and 3 aces from classmate Katelyn Sommers in a 25-14, 25-15 victory at Barrington. The Fillies were led by Kati Clement and Teigen Eilertsen with 2 kills apiece.

Palatine d. Rolling Meadows: Host Palatine won 25-17, 25-13 over Meadows (0-3), which was led Nora Rasche's 4 kills.

Conant d. Elk Grove: DeeDee Durr (6 kills, 2 aces), Katie Lomas (4 kills, 6 digs), Rachel Delanois (3 kills) and Elisa Ambrose (12 assists) paced Conant (1-1) in a 25-19, 25-17 homecourt victory, giving Drewann Pancratz her first career win as a volleyball coach.

Prospect d. Hoffman Estates: Kaell Myers (5 kills), Mary Mazurek (4) and Catherine Sherwood (3) led Prospect (2-1) in Hoffman Estates. Setter Michelle Haaning handed out 15 assists for the winners. Kaitlyn Imburgia paced Hoffman (0-2) with 3 kills.

Schaumburg d. Wheeling: Oyinkan Akinola put down 10 kills and Abbie Rahn added 4 to lead Schaumburg (2-0) to a 25-12, 25-21 victory over visiting Wheeling, which was led by Timber Terrell's 8 kills.