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Girls volleyball: St. Charles North settles for 4th at state

NORMAL - Volleyball is a game of momentum, and as much as St. Charles North had it on its side in the second set, the North Stars lost it with the match on the line Saturday night in the Class 4A state third place game at Redbird Arena.

After dropping the first set 25-19, the North Stars blitzed Crystal Lake Central 25-9 in the second set.

They were still up 23-22 in the third set just two points away from victory only to see the Tigers make the final surge, scoring the last three points for a 25-19, 9-25, 25-23 win.

St. Charles North (37-5) settles for fourth place in state, still the best finish in school history and the first state trophy the program has won.

"I know obviously this wasn't how we wanted to end because we wanted to win one of our last games," senior Amanda Parker said. "But it was awesome. The fact we were able to make it happen (making state), it's such an experience that so few people get to be part of. I wouldn't want to go out my senior season any other way."

In a match filled with huge swings, the Tigers (33-4) struck first never trailing in the opening set behind the hitting of Emily Kelly (9 kills), and Megan Kelly, Camryn Hausler and Paige Hulata - all with 6 kills.

St. Charles North turned things around immediately in the second set, opening with a 4-0 lead that included a Parker ace and an Abby Graham kill. Leading 8-6, GiGi Crescenzo put the set away by serving 12 straight points for a 20-6 lead. Kelly Jakaitis started the run with a kill, Parker hammered down three kills, and Katie Lanz landed two more.

"I was trying to get them out of system because I knew they had a really good block," Crescenzo said.

"We had a great first set. We really took a step back in the second set," Tigers coach Lisa Brunstrum said. "St. Charles changed their game plan a lot and caught us off guard. I'm really proud of how we stepped it up in the third set and finished."

The Tigers did, but not before the North Stars held a 21-19 lead late after a block by Crescenzo. The North Stars gave up three straight to fall behind 22-21, but Crescenzo's kill tied the score and Parker's put the North Stars back up 23-22.

Madde Blake came up with a clutch swing from the back row to tie the score at 23. Emily Kelly put away the next point before the Tigers ended the match with a block by Hausler and Megan Kelly.

"I think they stepped up their game a little more on the block," North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins said of the third set. "I think they also stepped up their defense and serve-receive. I think that's what broke down for them in the second set."

Parker led the North Stars with 9 kills, Lanz had 8 and Graham 7.

"We are extremely proud of what these girls accomplished not just bringing home a trophy but bringing together a community," Hawkins said. "We had an amazing fall season for all our sports and it was these girls who started the school spirit going to support the soccer boys, going to support the football boys and they in return came to support us. We're a young school and we'll still establishing that school culture so for a team like this to unite a community is huge."

The North Stars graduate a big chunk of their lineup including Graham, Parker, Johnson (4 blocks, 9 assists), Lauren Caprini (11 assists) and Jakaitis (2 kills, 4 blocks).

But the future looks bright too with juniors like Lanz and Crescenzo.

"Both of these two going forward are going to say, 'Let's keep at it, let's ride the wave we started this year and try to make it back here again next year,' " Hawkins said.

"It's pretty amazing with as many seniors as we have that we have two really solid players coming back. Now they have some experience under their belt and they have that loss (at state) to fire them up."

Lanz said the team surprised themselves with just how far they got a year after losing their regional opener.

"Of course it was a great accomplishment making it this far," Lanz said. "Of course it was our goal the beginning of the season. Did we actually think we could get the goal? Not at the beginning. But as we went on we said now we can really do this.

"The biggest difference from this year to last is last year we were a very young team. This year our senior leadership was a lot better and made a big difference and how our seniors take it upon themselves to always include everyone and make it one family. I think that's why we were so successful."

  St. Charles North's Gianna Crescenzo (9) in the IHSA Class 4A state girls volleyball third place game at Redbird Arena in Normal on Saturday. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles North's Kathie Lanz (11) with a spike in the IHSA Class 4A state girls volleyball third place game at Redbird Arena in Normal on Saturday. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles North's Gianna Crescenzo (9) in the IHSA Class 4A state girls volleyball third place game at Redbird Arena in Normal on Saturday. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles North's Abby Graham (19) with a spike in the IHSA Class 4A state girls volleyball third place game at Redbird Arena in Normal on Saturday. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles North's Abby Graham (19) tries for a save in the IHSA Class 4A state girls volleyball third place game at Redbird Arena in Normal on Saturday. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles North reacts after losing in the IHSA Class 4A state girls volleyball third place game at Redbird Arena in Normal on Saturday. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles North's Lauren Caprini (1) in the IHSA Class 4A state girls volleyball third place game at Redbird Arena in Normal on Saturday. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
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