Girls volleyball: Grayslake North 'really good' against Vernon Hills

6-0, 11-3 and 17-5.

What year is this for the Jim Sarver era of good volleyball?

At Grayslake North, head coach Sarver calls out defensive plays and assistant Nikki Kirchway runs the offense.

On opening night of North volleyball Tuesday, the Knights put a hurt on visiting Vernon Hills, 25-13, 25-16.

"We are really good,'' Sarver said. "I start five juniors and a sophomore."

That sophomore is Emily Bongiovanni-Schafer and on Tuesday she had 6 kills and 8 blocks.

"I think we are really good,'' Bongiovanni-Schafer noted. "We have a really strong team who works very hard.'

Bongiovanni had 2 blocks and a kill as the Knights opened up a quick 6-0 lead. One of the veterans of the club, Alyssa Gerzel fired 2 kills as North opened up a 10-2 lead in Set 1.

Gerzel led a balanced attack with 8 kills.

"We really played tough tonight,'' said Gerzel, who also plays beach volleyball.

"We showed up when we needed to."

Teegan Johnston (4 kills) had the last kill to make it 17-5.

"We are super fast this year,'' Johnston claimed. "Overall, we played very well."

Vernon Hills never led in either set but pulled within 10-9 on a kill and ace from Abby Wisniewski.in the second set. However, with North setter Lindsey Deip (16 assists) serving, North opened some breathing room with back-to-back blocks from Bongiovanni and Johnston.

Outside hitter Jessica Pozezinski (9 digs and 4 kills) ended the game with a kill.

North is guaranteed five games at the competitive Plainfield tournament this weekend. Two-time state champion Marist will be there as well.