Maybe the majority of people at the Naperville Central Class AA volleyball sectional were surprised Naperville Central won the second game in its matchup with No. 2 Downers Grove South on Tuesday, but Mustangs coach Denise Lazzeroni Kavanaugh wasn’t one of them.
“I’m so used to this now,” said Lazzeroni Kavanaugh after her 33-4 team advanced to Thursday’s sectional final against Naperville North with a 15-2, 10-15, 15-7 victory. “You never know what’s going to happen. We were very prepared for this match. We were prepared, but they just came out.”
After getting knocked off their feet in the first game, the Redhawks showed they also were prepared. Getting the ball to senior Meg Eckert, who had 20 kills, put Naperville Central in position to advance to the finals. Central broke out to a 6-0 lead and was never threatened.
“If you’re going to peak, this is it,” said Central coach Amy VanEekern, whose team finished at 25-12-1. “I don’t ever like to lose, but the fight we had tonight and what we put out there, I couldn’t have asked for more.”
The Mustangs went outside in the third game to Jeanette Abbott, who had 13 kills, and Claire McCormack, who had eight. Downers jumped out to a 5-1 lead but couldn’t shake Naperville Central until Jessica Wilkinson served three straight points for a 13-7 lead.
In the first match, No. 4 Naperville North got past Stagg 15-9, 15-6. The Huskies (35-2) were led by Katie Bruzdzinski’s 11 kills. Stagg finished 10-28.
Reid Hanley.
At Lincoln-Way Central: Colleen Byrne had six kills, seven digs and five blocks to lead No. 1 Sandburg (36-2) past Joliet Catholic 15-2, 15-13. . . . Kathryn Langheld led the way for Lincoln-Way East (27-11) with 15 kills in a 15-8, 15-11 victory over Providence. Lisa Cercello’s 13 kills led Providence (30-8).
At Stevenson: Brittany Kessel sparked No. 3 Mundelein (36-2) with 14 assists in a 15-6, 15-11 victory over New Trier (28-10). Jennifer Hynds chipped in six kills and five blocks for Mundelein. . . . Alexis Lewis’ 11 kills and nine digs led Stevenson (31-7) past Libertyville 15-9, 15-7. Stefanie Alde had six kills to lead Libertyville (27-10).
At Hersey: Jenny Preuss had 18 assists to lead No. 6 Glenbrook South (34-0) to a 15-3, 15-13 victory over Evanston. . . . Allison Stein’s 17 kills led Hersey (27-8) to a 15-12, 10-15, 15-10 victory over Prospect. Gabrielle Cottrell had 12 kills for Prospect (30-7).
At Reavis: Cheryl Kay and Kera Griffin had six kills apiece and Sarah Cullina had 21 assists as No. 7 Mother McAuley (22-8) defeated Reavis 15-6, 15-2. . . . Theresa Nugent had nine kills for Queen of Peace (31-7) in a 15-9, 15-11 victory over Oak Lawn.
At Johnsburg: No. 9 Barrington (31-6-1) held off a late rally in the second game to squeeze past Lake Zurich (22-9) 15-6, 15-13. Kelly Jennings led Barrington with 32 assists, and Katie Esbrook chipped in with nine kills and three aces. . . . No. 10 Prairie Ridge (33-5) rallied past Crystal Lake South (22-14-2) in the second game to score four straight points behind serves from Stephanie Obermeier to win 15-12, 15-10. Obermeier led Prairie Ridge with 28 assists and 11 kills.
At Bremen: Marian Catholic (30-9) ran off 12 straight points in Game 1 and cruised the rest of the way behind Katie Willard’s 17 assists to oust Homewood-Flossmoor 15-13, 15-6. . . . Monica Toure had four kills in Game 2 as Thornton Fractional North (24-10) used six straight points to beat T.F. South 15-13, 10-15, 15-10.
At Glenbard West: Jenna Link’s 22 assists and three aces led Wheaton Warrenville South (29-8) past York 15-3, 10-15, 15-11. Laura Bresnahan led York (19-15) with 16 kills and seven digs. . . . Courtney Subramanian’s 10 kills and Annie Welsch’s 29 digs lifted Nazareth (23-10-1) past Wheaton North 19-17, 15-13.
At St. Ignatius: Meg Donnelan’s nine kills led St. Ignatius (25-13) past Oak Park 15-8, 15-10. . . . Stephanie Munoz had six aces as Fenwick (20-11) eliminated Lane Tech 15-7, 15-5. Elizabeth Smith had seven digs for Lane (25-10).
At West Chicago: Christie Long had nine kills and Kathy Pawula added five kills and 15 digs as Conant (26-12) eliminated defending state champion St. Charles East 15-5, 15-9. Amanda Rohrsen had five kills for St. Charles East (25-13). . . . Beth Piccony’s 11 kills led Geneva (31-5) past Schaumburg 15-8, 15-11.
Class A sectionals
At St. Francis: No. 8 St. Francis defeated Montini 15-7, 15-8 as Amy Pakash had nine kills and nine digs. . . . Chicago Latin (16-12) defeated Jones 15-6, 15-9 behind Kyle McIntyre’s seven kills.
More Top Picks Best Usb C Cables
At Huntley: Meredith Stach had eight kills and 12 digs as St. Edward (27-10) defeated Huntley 17-15, 15-13. Aimee Knott’s two service points in Game 2 broke a 13-13 tie. . . . Julie Carlson had 11 kills and five digs as Newark (28-3-1) downed Genoa-Kingston 15-7, 15-7.