It’s an unusual trait for a volleyball team that boasts 27 victories this season, but Waubonsie Valley coach Amy VanEekeren says her squad tends to slumber through the first stage of matches.
“We have a tendency to start off really slow,” VanEekeren said.
That was the case again Tuesday night as Waubonsie had to rally twice to defeat Ottawa 15-8, 15-5 in the opening semifinal of the Waubonsie Valley Class AA Regional.
The Warriors (27-7-2) trailed 8-5 in Game 1 and 4-2 in Game 2, before embarking on a 10- and 12-point run. Sarah Miller finished with eight kills and five digs and Roni Chackand added five kills.
“Fortunately, we were able to pick it up and get a win, but we can’t keep doing that,” said VanEekeren, whose team faces West Aurora (18-17-1) in Thursday’s final. The Blackhawks defeated Plainfield 16-14, 16-14 behind Amanda Battistella’s 11 kills.
Marian Catholic: Pam Lynch tied an IHSA record by serving eight consecutive aces as No. 8 Marian Catholic (32-3) blanked Thornton 15-0, 15-0. Lynch joins Kristie Kemner of Quincy Notre Dame, who established the record in 1998. . . . Katie Hahn’s four digs and eight kills helped Thornwood (9-29) upset Bloom 15-11, 15-10.
Downers Grove South: No. 4 Downers South (29-5) beat Hinsdale Central 15-6, 15-1 behind Katie Smith’s six kills.
Fremd: Jennifer Kaberec’s nine aces helped Fremd (27-8-1) past Round Lake 15-3, 15-2.
Glenbard South: Ann Lopata had eight killsas Glenbard South downed Hinsdale South 15-3, 15-3 to improve to 26-8-2.
Hersey: The fifth-ranked hosts (31-3-1) cruised past Niles North 15-8, 15-0 behind Janet Goreham’s seven kills.
Lemont: The seventh-ranked Injuns (37-0) defeated Rich South 15-8, 12-15, 15-7 with Kristen Carvell’s 13 kills.
Lincoln-Way: Jill Lazzari’s five kills helped Lincoln-Way (25-11) best Bremen 15-0, 15-6.
Lyons: Ellen Wohlberg served three aces as No. 3 Lyons (31-4) reeled off nine straight points at the end of Game 1 and beat Riverside-Brookfield 15-2, 15-5.
Mother McAuley: The 10th-ranked Mighty Macs (21-15) downed Kankakee 15-2, 15-3 behind Maddie Barron’s five kills.
Minooka: Ryane Beasley’s 10 kills helped Minooka (31-5) breeze past East Aurora 15-1, 15-2.
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Naperville North: Becky Stewart’s six kills led the host Huskies (27-1) in their 15-3, 16-14 victory over Neuqua Valley.
Queen of Peace: No. 6 Queen of Peace (29-8) cruised to a 15-0, 15-2 victory over Proviso East with Melissa Vandrey’s four kills.
St. Charles: The No. 2 Saints blanked West Chicago 15-0, 15-0 as Lauren Harks chipped in five aces and four kills.