Girls volleyball: Radtke, Stevenson collect Crosstown title
A dominating performance by Jori Radtke helped Stevenson's girls volleyball team win the Libertyville-hosted Crosstown Classic on Saturday and remain undefeated this season.
Radtke, a senior and Northern Illinois commit, pounded 19 kills and recorded 11 digs, as the Patriots rallied to beat Lakes 20-25, 25-20, 25-21 in the semifinals. She then had 10 kills and 6 aces in a 25-10, 25-23 win over Libertyville in the final.
Stevenson went 5-0 in the two-day tournament to improve to 7-0 overall.
Sophomore Sophie Sorenson added 10 kills against Lakes and contributed 2 kills and an ace in the championship match. Patriots setter Alex Cuc dished out 27 and 15 assists, respectively, in her team's two matches Saturday. Cuc also served 2 aces against Libertyville, while Chloe Robinson notched 6 digs.
Lakes defeated Grayslake Central 25-13, 25-21 in the third-place match. It marked the Eagles' best placement in school history for the tournament.
Lakes (6-2) went 4-1 in the tourney, led by McKenna Lahr (34 kills, 36 digs, 8 aces) and Erica Grant (28 kills, 4 blocks). The Eagles' contributors also included Katie Billetdeaux (22 kills, 4 blocks), Kaylee Lebron (17 kills, 19 digs, 7 aces, 3 blocks), Keelan Bell (10 kills, 3 blocks), Toyin Jackson (22 digs), Paige Bartlett (22 digs) and Rachel Orpano (101 assists, 19 digs, 7 aces).
Grayslake Central (2-3, 2-4), which also to Libertyville 25-17, 25-16 in its first match Saturday, was led by Morgan Anderberg and sophomore Cassidy Beshel. Anderberg and Beshel recorded 16 and 14 kills, respectively, in two matches.
Amber Moser added 10 kills and 7 aces for the Rams.
"This was a great opening tournament for us," Grayslake Central coach Jason Janczak said. "As a young team, this weekend showed us what we are doing well and where we need to improve to be competitive at the end of the year. This is our highest finish since 2012, and we are excited about the potential we have this year."
Mundelein (3-4) picked up a couple of wins in the tournament. The Mustangs were 1-6 after seven matches last season. On Saturday, Mundelein outlasted Evanston (11-25, 25-23, 25-19) before losing to Warren (25-13, 25-22).
"This year's team is much improved over last year's," coach George Dressen Jr. said of his Mustangs. "A deeper bench is one reason."
Sydney Brunkow led the way for Mundelein with 30 kills, while Katherine East added 22.