It was do-or-die early in Game 3 for Andrean.
The 59ers had already lost the first two games and were trailing Hanover Central 7-1 in Game 3.
But Andrean coach Hether Lytton is stubborn.
She wasn’t going to let her team exit so quickly.
That’s when Andrean shook off the nerves, cut down its mistakes and found holes on the other side of the court to win 22-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 15-13 Thursday night in the opening round of the Class 3A Hanover Central Sectional.
“We’ve come to far to let anybody stop us,” Lytton said. “I knew if we stayed in there that the momentum would swing our way.”
Rensselaer, which will play the 59ers (23-10) at 11 a.m. Saturday in one semifinal, won the nightcap 25-9, 25-19, 25-23 over Calumet. Wheeler and New Prairie will play in the other semifinal at 12:30 p.m. The championship is set for 5 p.m.
Andrean sophomore Jenna Dal Santo, who recorded a match-high 16 kills, finished off Games 4 and 5 to spark the improbable comeback. Serena Wagner contributed 12 kills and an ace, Danielle Moynihan had eight kills and Christina Dal Santo led the defense with 22 digs.
Lytton said it was confidence and conditioning that helped her team survive.
“We had to remain calm,” she said. “We came in here to battle and we were not leaving without a battle.
“I think the difference was we are a much more conditioned team and I believe it was our confidence and our ability to look for the holes — to take a step back and not pound it every single time — that got us this win. We went up looking for their weaknesses and holes and that’s what turned the game around.”
Hanover coach Erin Bachinski said she had faith in her team in Game 5, but knew all the energy might have been spent in the first four games. Her team had only gone five games once all season.
“We played the best match we played all season,” she said. “Obviously we wish the ball would have dropped the way a couple times.
“We told them (before Game 5) that it was a new game right here. We have to fight for the next 15 points. I knew they were tired and it would be hard to pull off but I believed they could do it.”
The Wildcats were playing without starter Kari DeYoung, who suffered a concussion in practice Wednesday night.
More Top Picks Best Emergency Food Supply Kits
“Sam (Guglielmo) and Emma (DeYoung) were the only ones who have really played in a sectional match before,” Bachinski said. “So I was really proud of how they played; they have nothing to hang their heads about.”
RailCats add infielder: The RailCats have acquired infielder Alex Tomasovich from the Frontier League’s Schaumburg Boomers to complete an earlier trade. Tomasovich hit .279 with five homers and 28 RBIs in 79 games for Traverse City of the Frontier League last season. He went to Schaumburg after the season to complete another trade.
Terzarial to play for Oilmen: South Suburban College (Ill.) freshman pitcher Josh Terzarial, a Griffith, grad, will play for the Northwest Indiana Oilmen summer college baseball team next summer.
Ryan Haskell is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune. Post-Tribune staff contributed to this story.