Girls volleyball: Warren outlasts Grant in 3
Yes, there was a World Series game on of local interest. But for those folks who opted for the Class 4A Warren regional girls volleyball semifinal match on Tuesday night, they clearly got their money's worth.
It went the distance and more. Set 1 went easily to Warren, 25-19 over Grant. The same scenario played out in the second set as Grant roared back to win 25-20. And of course, the third set went the distance and a little more.
Warren (20-12) held serve, 25-19, 20-25 and 27-25 to earn a date with the top seed in the Lakes sectional, Libertyville, come Thursday night on the Blue Devils' home floor.
"That was a good regional match between two very evenly matched teams," Warren coach Julie Filippo said.
Warren was led by two solid players, both outside hitters. Claire Lundtveit and Natalie McNally came to play in this do-or-die match. Grant (21-14) was led from the middle, with another impressive senior in Hannah Johnson.
Set 1 was tied in the early going until Lundtveit went to serve. When she finished her turn, Warren led 12-7.
"Yes, it was a little bit interesting," Lundtveit said. "We just played Grant last Friday and they put up a bigger fight tonight."
Set 2 was knotted at 14-14 after three straight kills from the 6-foot-2 Johnson. The left-hander, junior Kayla Dabrowski, finished off the second set with a kill.
On a kill from another junior, middle hitter Mallory Harrity, the Grant lead was 6-3 in the decisive third set. Again, Lundtveit took a serving turn and an ace put her Blue Devils up 11-9.
"We do a lot of finishing drills," Lundtveit said. "We've lost some third games this year."
A kill from sophomore Megan Mitchell and Warren had some breathing room at 13-10.
Grant coach Michele Keenan watched as both teams had trouble getting in serves in down the stretch.
"I was wondering who was more afraid," Keenan said.
Her Bulldogs didn't blink late in the match. Bringer and Johnson (16 kills) came through with big hits and the set was knotted at 23-23. Another Johnson kill and the Bulldogs were one point away from victory.
But with McNally (13 kills) on the serving line, Lundtveit notched an important kill. Amanda Howe's serving ace put the Blue Devils in the title game.
Lundtveit noted her team battled but lost a three-set match to Libertyville in North Suburban Conference action.
She hopes for a better result come Thursday night.
"Both teams have to play their very best," Filippo said.
Grant loses two major pieces of their attack to graduation in Johnson and setter Katie Kiser.
Lundtveit had 8 kills and 8 digs. Defensive specialist Hannah Barbosa led the Warren defense with 11 digs. Setters Allison Maan de Kok (13 assists) and Kayla Klemz (8 assists) shared the setting duties.
Another Grant senior, Ashley Freund, had 5 kills.