One of the things St. Charles East coach Jennie Kull likes about her team is it seems like somebody different steps up in every match.
Lexi Crossen took her turn Thursday night.
“We were confident,” Crossen said. “But it wasn’t anything selfish.”
Selfish? No. Golden? Yes.
The junior outside hitter served four aces and had five kills as the host Saints swept South Elgin 25-16, 26-24 in the Class 4A St. Charles East Regional championship match.
Seventh-seeded St. Charles East (20-17), which advanced to face third-seeded Huntley at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Grant Sectional semifinals, understood the challenge.
Second-seeded South Elgin (31-5) entered the regional final featuring standout junior Alyssa Worden, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter who just committed to Iowa.
“We were ready for them to come out strong and for Alyssa to come out strong,” Crossen said. “We just had a little more oomph.”
Crossen’s serving helped the Saints break open Game 1. She served six straight points, including three aces, for a 19-11 lead. A kill from setter Sarah Musial clinched.
“I was looking for the spots where they wouldn’t get it,” Crossen said. “We’ve been practicing situations just like that, so that’s really helped us.
“It felt good out there. It wasn’t anything we couldn’t handle. We came out ready, prepared.”
South Elgin kept Game 2 close throughout, taking a 21-19 lead and having match point at 24-23. Crossen came up with kills in two key spots, however.
Crossen had a kill that forced a 22-22 tie and another for a 24-24 tie. A block from Isabella Mosquera and an ace from Musial gave the Saints the regional title.
“It’s been somebody every day who does something different, and I think that has been the best part of this team,” Kull said. “Anybody steps up and can make it happen. I’m very pleased.”
After the tough first game, South Elgin coach Joni Plach was happy with her team’s fight.
The result was closer than Oct. 13, when the two teams met in a nonconference match. The Saints won 25-11, 25-14.
“We definitely beat ourselves in the first game,” Plach said. “The second game, I thought we played our hardest.
“We fought to the very end, and when it’s your last game of the season, all you can hope for is the girls fight to the very end. They didn’t give up. They did everything they could.”
Worden ended up leading South Elgin with 11 kills and 10 digs.
“She’s so talented,” Kull said. “She’s so great. She does a nice job. They did a nice job. They were prepared. It shows why they were 31-5.”
Kate Goudreau led St. Charles East with eight kills. Mosquera chipped in with six kills and three blocks.
Despite hovering around the .500 mark near the end of the season, the Saints knew the rugged schedule had them ready for the regional moment.
“I’m proud of the kids,” Kull said. “We are finally starting to get in rhythm at the right time. It’s such a tough schedule. That makes a difference when it comes to this time.”
In the sectional semifinals, St. Charles East will play Huntley, which took care of McHenry 25-16, 25-18 to advance. Jacobs, a 25-22, 25-14 winner over St. Charles North, will face top-seeded Rockton Hononegah in the first semifinal at 5:30 p.m.
The sectional final is 6 p.m. Wednesday.
“We’re so excited,” Crossen said. “We’re ready for anything that comes to us.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.