Girls volleyball: Lakes bounces Libertyville in two sets
Two can play this game.
Sure, Libertyville brought back standouts Peyton O'Brien and Kelli Hopper. But in the early going of Wednesday's match against Lakes, it was libero Oliva Sauers at the serving line.
She served 8 straight points for the home-standing Wildcats. The Libertyville lead was substantial at 16-8 in the first set.
And then visiting Lakes played the serving game. Senior Ashley Smith rattled off a pair of aces. When defensive specialist Megan Blanchard went into serve, the Eagles offense had kicked in. Devinn Bell threw down a kill and so did Smith. The Eagles had caught the Wildcats.
Lakes came in the Libertyville gym and served hard at the Wildcats. Lakes went home after a 25-23, 25-18 win, moving the Eagles to 2-0.
"We are excited about the season," Smith said after tallying 4 kills, 7 digs and 3 aces. "We set some goals. We have really good chemistry."
Lakes, evidently inspired by the first-set comeback, never trailed in the second set.
Smith fired off one of her aces in the second set. Kelli Rettig (6 kills, 7 digs, 5 aces) went into serve for the Eagles. She used a pair of Smith kills and 2 aces to up the score to 17-8.
"We try to work on our serving in practice," said Rettig, who will play next year for Marian University in Wisconsin. "This team really supports each other."
Lakes coach Katie Cheek felt her team was in awe of Libertyville in the beginning of the match.
"Our team served bombs at them," Cheek said. "My team never gave up."
Libertyville (1-1) didn't surrender right away. An ace from Alannah Howell cut the Lakes lead to 22-16. Two Rettig kills ended the match.
Ella Schaffnit led Libertyville with 8 kills, while O'Brien delivered 15 assists. Hopper had 4 kills, as did Cassidy Jones, who also contributed 3 blocks. Ivey Fowler had 5 blocks for the Wildcats.
Bell dished out 17 assists for Lakes, while adding 4 kills and 5 digs. The Eagles also got contributions from Paula Ceneac (1 kill, 2 blocks), Allison Stover (3 aces, 9 digs), Molly Reuland (1 kill, 1 block, 1 ace) and Megan Maloney (2 kills, 2 blocks).