Girls volleyball: Kaneland pushes Marian Central to the brink

Kaneland's girls volleyball team invaded Woodstock Thursday night with a win over defending Class 3A state champion Marian Central as its main objective.

The upset-minded Knights gave a great effort but didn't quite get the job done.

The host Hurricanes needed to muster every ounce of energy to defeat Kaneland 25-21, 21-25, 25-22 in a nonconference match.

"I am very very proud of our girls," said Kaneland coach Cyndi Violett, whose team upset defending Class 4A state runner-up Glenbard West on Saturday to win the Wheaton North tournament. "We play a lot of Class 4A schools and a very tough schedule. The kids are really jelling early in the season and the hitters are hitting their spots. They just don't quit.''

Splitting the first two sets, Marian Central and Kaneland battled to the bitter end in the pivotal third game.

With 8 lead changes, the Hurricanes (4-0) grabbed the lead for good 18-17 on a kill by Sydney Nemtuda. Nemtuda's kill propelled the hosts to a 5-0 run and a 22-17 advantage.

But the Knights (5-2) refused to quit and climbed within 2 of the Canes 23-21 on a kill by Cameron Wyant. But the visitors from Maple Park couldn't get any closer.

Two kills from Lauren Hanlon gave Marian Central the game and match.

Hanlon paced the Hurricanes with 15 kills, 8 in the third game.

"Lauren had the hot hand in the third game and we did a great job of getting her the ball," said Marian Central coach Laura Watling. "Kaneland is a very good team. We will probably see them in the postseason. Playing St. Francis (Wednesday) night ... this was a tough back-to-back for us. We just had to grind this one out."

Nemtuda backed Hanlon with 14 kills. Setter McKayla Wuensch collected 34 assists.

Wyant paced the Knights with 14 kills, 5 blocks and 3 aces while Katie Jablonski collected 12 kills and 2 aces.

In Game 1, Marian Central took the lead for good at 20-19 on a kill by Wuensch. A kill by Rachel Noonan gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead in the match.

The Knights bounced back with vengeance in Game 2. On an kill from Alex Anderson Kaneland took the lead for good at 21-20. Anderson, who had 4 aces in the match, collected 2 more aces and Hannah Nauert delivered a kill as the Knights went on a 4-0 run to take a 24-20 lead. A kill by Noonan pulled Marian Central within 24-21 but the Hurricanes couldn't climb any closer.

A kill from Jessica Weber gave Kaneland the game to tie the match at 1-1.