St. Charles North Advances to State Super Sixteen

St. Charles North girls volleyball takes out East in sectional showdown

By KEVIN DRULEY- kdruley@shawmedia.com    Created: Wednesday, November 6, 2013 5:34 a.m. CST

GENEVA – St. Charles North girls volleyball players welcomed an onrushing student section Tuesday night. Charged by the North Stars’ 25-19, 25-22 sweep of St. Charles East in a Class 4A Geneva Sectional semifinal, the “Blue Fan Group” stormed the court, and North’s players held their ground.

North showed similar poise throughout the night, pouncing on the Saints as East continually kept itself down with 10 service errors. North (30-5) seized control early in both games against East (31-7) and will look to duplicate that intensity in Thursday’s sectional final against host Geneva.

“In a way, it kind of helps knowing everyone on the other side of the net,” North senior outside hitter Taylor Krage said, “but in a way it doesn’t, because sometimes you play too much into what you think each girl is going to do and their tendencies when really, you’ve just got to go out and play.”

The Vikings handed the North Stars their lone Upstate Eight Conference River Division loss of the season, a three-game victory that ultimately created a shared title between North and East.

North defeated visiting East, 25-17, 23-25, 25-22 on Sept. 17, one week before the Geneva loss. That victory against the Saints marked the first win for North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins – the former Lindsey Linkimer – against her alma mater since joining the program in 2009.  Tuesday’s meeting was hardly the first postseason encounter between the schools, and the sight of Saints and North Stars socializing after the match was a common one after the North students dispersed. “Honestly, a game can’t ruin a friendship,” East senior outside hitter Dana Voltolina said. “I love my team, I loved this season, but one game doesn’t decide our life.”

Veteran Saints coach Jennie Kull succintly assessed what she thought turned the latest North-East clash.  “We live and die by the serve, and tonight we died by it. That’s the bottom line,” Kull said. “That’s what kept us in so many games, and today, it took us out of the game. We didn’t execute tonight. We didn’t play well, unfortunately. I think that if we would have executed the [game plan] that we would have been able to be more successful.”

East closed to within 15-13 in the second game, but followed up with a service error, one of four in the game. The same thing happened one point after the Saints trailed, 21-20.

North’s sister tandem of Taylor Krage (six kills) and her younger sibling, sophomore Daley (five kills), often subdued the Saints when there weren’t self-inflicted wounds.

Taylor Krage handcuffed East’s Chloe Rojas (eight digs) with the match-clinching kill. In the first Genva match, Taylor Krage smacked 16 kills while Daley added six.

“It’s a magical connection out there between them,” Hawkins said. “Sometimes, I get goosebumps when I see them talking to each other, giving each other tips on what to be doing, what shots are open. Daley’s really thrived having her sister, and she’s learned a lot from her, and so it’s just a special bond I don’t think a lot of people can understand. And it’s really helped our team a lot this year.”

Voltolina and Megan Schildmeyer contributed seven kills apiece for East, which was bidding to return to its home floor for supersectionals on Saturday. Carly Jimenez had 21 assists while Anne Hughes added 11 digs.

Defensive specialist Alex Seavey and setter Sydney Wohlert excelled in moving the ball to North’s hitters. Communication issues plagued the North Stars against the Vikings in September.

“That sort of thing can happen against any team,” Taylor Krage said. “It wasn’t because we were playing them, per se, it was us coming out not focused. So we’re definitely coming into Thursday ready to play.”

IHSA Class 4A Geneva Sectional

Tuesday’s semifinals

(4) Geneva def. (1) Glenbard West, 2-0 (25-20, 25-21)

(2) St. Charles North def. (3) St. Charles East, 2-0 (25-19, 25-22)

Thursday’s final

(4) Geneva vs. (2) St. Charles North, 7 p.m.

The Daily Herald

Article updated: 11/5/2013 10:58 PM

St. Charles N. sweeps St. Charles E.

Meeting in the Class 4A sectional girls volleyball semifinals Tuesday night for the fourth time in 7 years, St. Charles North and St. Charles East were both hoping to extend their seasons at least 2 more days.

The second-seeded North Stars (31-5) will return to practice this afternoon after their 25-19, 25-22 victory over the third-seeded Saints (31-7) in Geneva.

It marked the North Stars' second victory in as many tries this season against their cross-town rivals but first postseason win over the Saints since 2006.

"I'm really proud of our girls for fighting back and really pushing against them tonight," said North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins, who had lost 2 previous sectional semifinal matches to St. Charles East in 2011 and 2009.

The North Stars built leads of 16-8, 18-10, and 19-11 in the opening game before turning back a late Saints' rally.

Northern Illinois University-bound outside hitter Taylor Krage helped her team fight off the Saints with a mix of power and finesse on back-to-back kills as the North Stars turned a 22-18 lead into a 24-18 advantage.

Senior Sophia DuVall's middle kill sealed the deal in Game 1 as the North Stars also benefited from 6 Saints' service errors.

"They made a lot of errors in the first set which is uncharacteristic of them," Hawkins said of the Saints. "We knew going into the second set that they were going to clean it up and push back real hard."

After falling behind 17-13 in Game 2, the Saints clawed within a point on 3 separate occasions but could never pull even.

"We've really been working on first-ball side-outs and not allowing teams to make the runs," said Krage, who had a team-high 8 kills, including the match-point clincher. "That really showed tonight. There weren't many multiple point runs by them."

After surviving a 3-game regional championship match with Wheaton North last Thursday, the North Stars were focused on making things a little less dramatic Tuesday night.

"We definitely wanted to come out more mentally focused because we saw what happened on Thursday," said Krage.

"I think we learned a lot from that match," said Hawkins. "I keep telling them that at this point of the season every team is good and every team is fighting for their last day. It's a lot less about skill and more about heart and the will to win. If you take points off, you're going to suffer the consequences."

Sophomore Daley Krage added 5 kills while Jaclyn Taylor had 2 kills and Alex Seavey recorded a pair of aces.

"It's a magical connection out there between them," Hawkins said of the Krage sisters. "Sometimes I get goose bumps when I see them talking to each other and giving each other tips on what shots are open."

Megan Schildmeyer and Dana Voltolina paced the Saints with 7 kills apiece, while senior setter Carly Jimenez added 21 assists and 5 digs.

"Honestly I think we could've played 10 times better but you can always reflect on the what-ifs or you can accept the fact that they (the North Stars) played great," said Jimenez, who will play volleyball next year at High Point University (N.C.)

"We live and die by the serve and tonight we died by it," said Saints coach Jennie Kull of her team's 10 service errors. "It's what kept us in so many games and today it took us out of the game. You can't miss six serves in the first game and continue to miss them in the second."

Mutual respect was evident from both coaches after the match.

"I'm proud of Lindsey (Hawkins), I'm proud of the girls and I wish them the best of luck," said Kull, who coached Hawkins (then Linkimer) in high school.

"They teach their girls how to fight," said Hawkins. "I'm a product of that. She's (Kull) an awesome coach and I have a massive amount of respect for her and the program she has over there."

St. Charles North will face fourth-seeded Geneva (28-9) in Thursday's sectional championship.

Regional Championship Win in Three Sets against Wheaton North

St. Charles North volleyball finds inspiration in wild match

By DENNIS D. JACOBS editorial@kcchronicle.com

Created: Friday, November 1, 2013 5:35 a.m. CST

SOUTH ELGIN – Heather Dorniden is not a volleyball player, but she still played an inspirational role in St. Charles North’s victory over Wheaton North in the Class 4A South Elgin Girls Volleyball Regional championship match Thursday night.

The North Stars (29-5) rallied from an eight-point deficit in the third and decisive game to down the Falcons, 25-19, 24-26, 26-24.

St. Charles North led the second game, 24-17, but Wheaton North (23-15) scored the next nine points to force Game 3. The Falcons continued their roll by scoring the first seven points of the final game. The scoring spree prompted a timeout from St. Charles North coach Lindsey Hawkins, who reminded her players of the story of Dorniden, a track star in the last decade for the University of Minnesota.

“We watched maybe a very timely, inspirational video today about a girl from Minnesota who was running in the Big Ten championships and fell, but then came back to win the race,” Hawkins said. “So we talked about how it was all about belief in herself and how she believed that she could do it. And so that’s what we said in the timeout. We just need to believe.”

Dorniden fell in the middle of the 600-meter finals at the 2008 Big Ten Indoor Championships, but in a tremendous display of guts and determination, ran down the field to win the race at the wire.

“We really just didn’t want to end our season on a bad note,” St. Charles North middle blocker Sophia DuVall said. “We wanted it so badly and I feel like it was kind of one of those mind over matter things.”

DuVall had 10 kills in the match, including four in the opening game.

“Obviously our outsides, the Krage sisters [Taylor and Daley] are pretty key, but some teams will tend to hone in on them if we go to them a lot,” North Stars setter Sydney Wohlert said. “Our sophomore and right sides are stepping up huge, Claire [Anderson] and Jaclyn Taylor, but also our middles. I pulled them aside before and said, ‘This is your game. They have shorter middles than us, so if you get up there, I’ll give you the ball.’ ”

St. Charles North seemed in control of the second game, taking a 24-17 lead on a Daley Krage block, one of six kills she had on the night. But a Grace Tiesman block started the 16-point run by the Falcons.

“We were really frustrated,” Wohlert said. “But we’ve been fighters all season. That’s what we’ve been known for, is having resilience and being able to come back in key moments.”

The Wheaton North string finally ended with a couple of hitting errors. The Falcons still led 10-2, when DuVall scored in the middle, the first kill for the North Stars in 21 points.

“As a hitter, I just really like to take advantage of every ball Syd gives me, just because as a middle it’s kind of harder to get set all the time,” DuVall said. “We all work so hard in practice. We’re like a family. We don’t want to let each other down.”

DuVall’s kill started a rally of eight straight points for St. Charles North that tied the game. Alex Seavey had a pair of ace serves during the run.

The game went back and forth after that, but Taylor Krage came alive down the stretch, notching five of her 13 kills in the final game, including one that put St. Charles North up, 25-24. She came up with a key block on the next point that Wheaton North could not return.

Emily Carroll had seven kills for the North Stars, including a pair of blocks in the middle. Wohlert recorded 25 assists.

Videos for Sets 1, 2 and 3 are below.

Thanks to Dan Dal Degan for the You Tube videos!

Tri-Cities All-Area Team

From The Daily Herald:

Article updated: 10/31/2013 12:31 PM

Tri-Cities All-Area Girls Volleyball Team

• Article
• Photos (12)

	Emily Carroll
	Ellie Dunn
	Anne Hughes
	Carly Jimenez
	Taylor Krage
	Grace Loberg
	Heather Meyer
	Megan Schildmeyer
	Shea Thayer
	Dana Voltolina
	Kelsey Wicinski
	Sydney Wohlert

 1 of 12 

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jlemon@dailyherald.com

On a St. Charles North team that won a share of the Upstate Eight Conference River title and the first three tournament titles in program history, Carroll provided a major presence in the middle. The junior finished with 111 kills, 132 blocks and 67 aces. "Emily Carroll is our 'quiet killer,'" North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins said. "Most teams don't notice the skinny girl across the net until she stuff blocks you a bunch of times. She is literally a wall up at the net, and our defense wouldn't be half as strong as it is without the great block she puts up."Emily Carroll, St. Charles North

Ellie Dunn, Kaneland

With 214 kills through Kaneland's first 25 games, plus team-highs in solo blocks, aces and digs, it's easy to see why this junior earned a scholarship to Ball State, where she committed on Oct. 15. "Offensively she is force," Kaneland coach Kerri McCastland said. "Ellie has also worked really hard on her all-around game. Teams tend to target her as the big tall girl in the back and good for Ellie. Ellie has really stretched her range offensively as well. She has such variety that makes her a threat. She's incredible, coachable and so interested in being pushed and being better. She has grown in her leadership and will continue to do so into her senior year."

Anne Hughes, St. Charles East

With 41 aces, a team-best 2.13 passer rating and 500 digs in the regular season, Hughes was the glue in the back row for the Upstate Eight Conference River Divsion co-champs. Unanimous selection to the UEC River team. "That's why we've been successful," said Saints coach Jennie Kull whose team went 29-6 in the regular season. "She's like (former All-Area libero) Maisey Mulvey. She takes balls away from people. She's built the confidence on the court to run the back court. That's why we've won as many games as we have."

Carly Jimenez, St. Charles East

Headed to High Point University in North Carolina, this senior made a seamless transition from the right-side she played as a junior to setter. Finished the regular season with 685 assists with 84 kills, 241 digs and 26 aces. Saints coach Jennie Kull compared her to former setter Laura Homann. "She has that same demeanor," Kull said of the all-UEC pick. "Everybody respects her. I think if the quarterback is like that the team goes above and beyond. She's really becoming the whole package. Running the team like she is a tribute to her. She's a kind, caring person."

Taylor Krage, St. Charles North

The Northern-Illinois bound senior, three-year starter and All-Area captain put away 267 kills. She showed her all-around skills with 198 digs and 24 aces, making the Upstate Eight River All-Conference team. "Taylor is our work horse," North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins said. "Day in and day out, she is always the first one in the gym and the last to leave. She is disciplined and knows what it takes to win. She has sacrificed a lot for this game and is so deserving of having such a magical senior season because of all she has put in thus far."

Grace Loberg, Geneva

The only freshman on the All-Area team made an instant impact this fall. Led Geneva with 261 kills, using her 6-foot-5 height to dominate at times. The UEC River unanimous selection turned in a 21-kill, 21-dig match against Batavia. Finished regular season with 160 digs, 57 blocks and .471 kill percentage. "We've never had a freshman make an impact like that before," Geneva coach KC Johnsen said. "She's a force to be reckoned with. She's just going to get stronger and catch up to her body a little bit. Her ceiling is about as high as anyone."

Heather Meyer, Batavia

This three-year starter and captain is on the AVCA All-American Watch List after a regular season that saw her lead Batavia in kills with 306 and a .382 hitting percentage. Her 285 digs were second on the team. Unanimous selection to the UEC River team. "Heather has developed into an all-around player for us by her sheer hard work year round," Batavia coach Lori Trippi-Payne said. "She continues to improve her game even now, and it is fun watching her get better and better. Although she is one of our most skilled players, she is one of the hardest workers on our team everyday."

Megan Schildmeyer, St. Charles East

A setter for her Sports Performance club team, Schildmeyer made the move to the outside for the Saints and blasted a team-high 210 kills in the regular season. Also led the Saints with 59 aces and added 271 digs and 46 blocks to make the UEC All-Conference team. "That's a huge transition and she's done amazing," Saints coach Jennie Kull said of the junior's position change. "She's been absolutely amazing this season."

Shea Thayer, Batavia

Selected to the Upstate Eight Conference River Division team as a unanimous selection, Thayer led Batavia with 71 blocks. Also had 113 kills, third-best on the team. "Shea has really turned a corner this year in her development as a middle hitter," Batavia coach Lori Trippi-Payne said. "During this past year, she has made a stronger commitment to the weight room, and it has really paid off for her. She also continues to improve her game even now, and it has changed our team from the beginning of the season through the present."

Dana Voltolina, St. Charles East

Every fall there are players who emerge as bigger impact players than anyone expected coming into the season, and perhaps nobody did that more than this senior. Voltolina ended up second on the Saints with 173 kills while making the All-Tournament team at the Mizuno Cup. "She has come through offensively on the outside and made some tremendous strides," Saints coach Jennie Kull said. "Blocking and hitting she's done great things. She's come far beyond what I ever expected this year."

Kelsey Wicinski, Geneva

The third Wicinski to star on the Geneva volleyball team, this junior took control of the Vikings' back row and played a key role in Geneva's 22-8 regular season. Her 694 digs on the season included a school-record 49 against St. Charles North and 48 against Batavia. The unanimous UEC River selection also had 41 aces. "She's done wonderful," Geneva coach KC Johnsen said. "I think Kelsey has dug up more balls serve-receive than anyone we've had. And we've had some good ones."

Sydney Wohlert, St. Charles North

When the North Stars found themselves in tight situations this year, it always helped to have a veteran like Wohlert in charge. An unanimous Upstate Eight Conference River Division selection, Wohlert totaled 358 assists, 139 digs and 55 aces. "Sydney is a great senior leader," North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins said. "Sydney is the heart beat of our team — she sets the tone of practices and games. She lights the spark on the team as soon as she steps on the court."

Girls Volleyball All-Area Roster

Player School Pos. Yr.

Emily Carroll St. Charles North MH Jr.

Ellie Dunn Kaneland OH Jr.

Anne Hughes St. Charles East L Jr.

Carly Jimenez St. Charles East S Sr.

*Taylor Krage St. Charles North OH Sr.

Grace Loberg Geneva OH Fr.

Heather Meyer Batavia OH Sr.

Megan Schildmeyer St. Charles East OH Jr.

Shea Thayer Batavia MH Sr.

Dana Voltolina St. Charles East OH Sr.

Kelsey Wicinski Geneva L Jr.

Sydney Wohlert St. Charles North S Sr.

* — Honorary captain

Special mention

Makayla Beebe (Aurora Christian, jr., L); Sophia DuVall (St. Charles North, sr., MB); Martha Konovodoff (Rosary, fr., L); Hannah Lanasa (Geneva, jr., OH); Jenny Lubic (Kaneland, sr., S); Shea Stanley (Batavia, sr. OH).

Honorable mention

Erin Burke (Rosary, fr., OH); Maddie Courter (Geneva, jr. MH); Audrey Faulhaber (Batavia, sr., S); Vanessa Gould (Kaneland, so., RS); Riley Hannula (Kaneland, jr., MH); Natalie Hayes (Aurora Christian, so., MB); Maddie Jaudon (Batavia, jr., L); Daley Krage (St. Charles North, so., OH); Mikaela Mosquera (St. Charles East, jr., MH); Kathy Nyguen (Kaneland, so., L); Ivy Oleson (Aurora Christian, jr., S); Michaela Ping (Rosary, jr, MB); Lauren San Diego (Aurora Central Catholic, sr., S); Alex Seavey (St. Charles North, DS); Meagan Smith (St. Charles East, jr., OH); Clare Tack (Aurora Central Catholic, sr., L).

LINK

Third Tournament Championship at Minooka

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Minooka Invitational: St. Charles North captured its second tournament championship in as many weekends and third this season. The 27-5 North Stars went 5-0 and topped Normal West, 25-17, 25-16 in the title match. Taylor Krage smacked 37 kills on the weekend. Taryn DalDegan added 47 assists, while Sophia DuVall contributed 26 kills and 10 blocks.

North Wins Saxon Invite in Straight Sets

First Place, Schaumburg Saxon Invite

The St. Charles North Girls Volleyball team went 5-0 this weekend at the Schaumburg Saxon Invite, winning all 5 matches in straight sets and improving their record 23-5.

The North Stars began the day facing off with St. Viator, East Peoria, and Hononegah in pool play. They finished the day squaring off with Larkin again in the semi-finals, and Cary Grove in the championship.

Sisters Taylor and Daley Krage led the North Stars in kills, Taylor earning 69 kills for the day, while Daley tallied 39. Jaclyn Taylor and Claire Anderson each added 16 kills on the right side, while Sophia Duvall and Emily Carroll each had 14 kills out of the middle.

The North Stars served especially well this weekend, serving up 39 aces. The defense also played great, as Jaclyn Taylor had 7 blocks, Claire Anderson had 6, Sophia DuVall had 8, and Emily Carroll had 8. Sam Lappin had 34 digs, Alex Seavey had 29 digs, Megan Russell had 15, Taylor Krage had 19, Daley Krage had 13, Claire Anderson had 13, and Sydney Wohlert had 20.

Taryn DalDegan and Sydney Wohlert dished out the offense, Taryn earning 35 assists for the weekend, and Sydney earning 65.

The North Stars play next weekend at the Minooka Tournament.

Senior Night Win Over Larkin

Emotions were plentiful during Tuesday's Senior Night festivities prior to St. Charles North's girls volleyball match against Larkin.

But the North Stars (17-5, 4-1) were able to keep their wits when it mattered most during a 25-21, 25-21 Upstate Eight Conference River Division triumph over the visiting Royals (14-12, 2-3).

In the second game, St. Charles North jumped out to leads of 8-3, 14-7 and 16-9 before the Royals mounted another comeback.In Game 1, the Royals trimmed a 21-16 deficit to a single point at 21-20 before a timely back-row kill from senior outside hitter Taylor Krage (team-high 6 kills, 8 digs) gave the momentum back to the North Stars.

Led by seniors Olivia Kofie (match-high 12 kills) and Brianna Stewart (7 kills, 4 blocks), Larkin scored 6 consecutive points to draw within 16-15.

Moments later, an ace from Kofie pulled the Royals within a point at 18-17. Each time, Krage answered with powerful kills to help the North Stars maintain their slim lead.

After Sofie's back-row kill cut St. Charles North's lead to 22-21, the North Stars finally slammed the door on the Royals with a kill from sophomore Daley Krage.

"She is our go-to player (Taylor Krage) but it's a credit to the other girls on the team because they are such offensive weapons that they allow her to be that go-to person," said North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins.

Senior middle blocker Sophia DuVall collected 5 kills for the North Stars, while senior Corrinne Sullivan and sophomore Claire Anderson each had 4 kills.

"You never know what we're going to run because we have so many weapons," said Hawkins. "We look down the bench and any one of those girls is ready to go at any time and is a real viable threat for us. That's a nice 'problem' to have. I love that — it just makes my job easier."

With the win, the North Stars inched closer to clinching at least a share of the conference title.

But this night was reserved for St. Charles North's 8 seniors — Alex Seavey (12 digs), Sydney Wohlert (11 assists), Camille Kott, Alex Woytich, Shea Miller, Taylor Krage, DuVall and Sullivan.

"There were a lot of emotions, especially before the game," said Taylor Krage. "We had our speeches and a lot of them got emotional but we wanted to cut the emotions off as soon as warm-ups started."

The Northern Illinois University-bound Krage also had to fight through the emotions of facing Larkin's Kofie and Stewart — teammates on Club Fusion's U17 national championship squad this past summer.

"It's fun to go up against them because I haven't seen them in a while," said Krage. "You know each other's little quirks and what shots they might hit."

The narrow defeat served as a bitter reminder for Larkin coach Henry Graack.

"That's kind of been how our season has been going," said Graack. "We're 14-12 now and the losses have been close ones. We just can't get those last couple points."

Playing in a conference with Batavia, Geneva and the two St. Charles schools can get frustrating but Graack quickly turned it into a positive for his team.

"I think we've got one of the toughest conferences in the state just because we're all fairly level," said Graack. "It's tough but it will get us ready for regionals."

October 14, 2013   Girl's Volleyball Top 20

1. St. Francis (29-3) Maddie Haggerty out for the season

2. Glenbard West (25-2) Autumnfest this weekend

3. Benet (23-3) No. 1 seed at Plainfield South sectional

4. Crystal Lake South (25-2) Clinched second straight FVC Valley title

5. St. Charles North (23-5) Takes title at Saxon Invite

6. St. Charles East (21-5) Third at Mizuno Cup

7. Naperville North (23-3) Fifth at Mizuno Cup

8. Lake Zurich (21-2) Bears clinch NSC Lake championship

9. Waubonsie Valley (22-4) No. 4 seed at Plainfield South

10. Hersey (13-9) 1 win from MSL East crown

11. Carmel (23-3) Corsairs outlast St. Viator in 3 sets

12. Metea Valley (16-5) No. 6 seed at Plainfield South

13. Montini (25-3) Took fifth at Huntley

14. Geneva (20-7) 4th-place finish at Mizuno

15. Stevenson (21-6) Pats got 4-1 at Glenbrook/New Trier Invite

16. Glenbard South (25-6) No 1 seed despite moving up to 4A

17. Huntley (17-10) Nearly handed Boylan 1st loss

18. Fremd (16-10) C. Roberts, Stegich all-tourney at GBN

19. Barrington (12-10) Controls own destiny in MSL West

20. Cary-Grove (17-15) Win at Huntley a turning point?

Team One Getting Serious

Getting ready to Bring It.

Wheaton Classic, Round 1

Wheaton Classic

St. Charles North d. Plainfield Central 25-20, 25-19

SCN stats: Anderson 7 kills, T. Krage 6 kills, DuVall 2 kills, Carroll 2 kills, Taylor 4 kills, D. Krage 6 kills, Wohlert 11 assists T. DalDegan 12 assists, Seavey 8 digs , Lappin 4 digs
*

St. Charles North d. Hinsdale Central 25-13, 25-15

SCN stats: T. Krage 8 kills, Anderson 5 kills, Taylor 5 kills, D. Krage 3 kills, Wohlert 10 assists, DalDegan 10 assists, Lappin 4 digs, Seavey 3 digs, Carroll 4 aces.

*
WHEATON CLASSIC

Match Results
at Wheaton North

Pool A
Benet d. Hinsdale South 23-25, 25-12, 25-14
Benet d. Wheaton Nrth 25-16, 25-19
Wheaton North d. Hinsdale South 28-30, 25-11, 25-22

Pool E
Naperville North d. Downers North 25-14, 25-19
Naperville North d. Rosary 25-10, 25-20
Downers North d. Rosary 25-022, 26-24

Pool D
St. Charles North d. Plainfield Central 25-20, 25-19
St. Charles North d. Hinsdale Central 25-13, 25-15
Hinsdale Central d. Plainfield Central 25-14, 25-12

Pool H
Libertyville d OPRF 25-21, 25-18
OPRF d. Evanston 25-18, 25-10
Evanston d. Libertyville 15-25, 26-24, 25-22
at Wheaton Warrenville South

Pool C
Marist d. Prairie Ridge 25-17, 25-16
Marist d. WW South 25-18, 25-23
WW South d. Prairie Ridge 25-17, 25-20

Pool B
Plainfield North d. Naperville Central 25-19, 25-22
Plainfield North d. Downers South 25-17, 25-18
Naperville Central d. Downers South 25-18, 25-22

Pool F
Sandburg d. Neuqua Valley 25-22, 25-22
Sandburg d. Wheaton Academy 25-13, 25-11
Wheaton Academy d. Neuqua Valley 23-25, 25-18, 25-20

Pool G
Waubonsie Valley d. Lemont 25-22, 25-17
Waubonsie Valley d. Glenbrook South 25-21, 25-15
Lemont d. Glenbrook South 25-18, 21-25, 25-21

*

To be continued Saturday.....

North Defeats East!

St. Charles North players celebrate a point against St. Charles East during a varsity volleyball game at St. Charles North on Tuesday evening.

St. Charles North snaps St. Charles East’s streak

With all the noise, emotion and general craziness going on in the St. Charles North gym on the 5th annual Volley for a Cure night Tuesday, the North Stars did an amazing job of tuning it out against a St. Charles East program that has owned this series lately.

The result was a third game with just a single North Star hitting error and no service mistakes. The Saints, meanwhile, missed three serves and committed seven hitting errors in the deciding game, and the steady, calm play by the North Stars proved to be the difference in a thrilling 25-17, 23-25, 25-22 victory that snapped an 8-match losing streak to St. Charles East.

The North Stars didn't lead in the third game until 15-14 when Taryn DalDegan set Emily Carroll for her first kill of the night. They never let go once they got it, improving their perfect record to 11-0 overall and 2-0 in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division.

"We don't have people on our team that will freak out even when we were behind in the third game," said the North Stars' Northern Illinois-bound senior Taylor Krage who led all players with 18 kills. "We knew if we controlled our side there was a good chance to come out with a win."

That the North Stars did, with Krage putting away the final point on a cross-court kill.

"Senior leadership," North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins said of the difference. "Sydney Wohlert, Alex Seavey and Taylor Krage, they were all on the court, they wanted to win, they have been dreaming of this since they started here. They have been with me a long time and they are some of the best senior leaders I've ever had. They just really dug deep and stayed calm. They did not let the atmosphere rattle them, and they relied on each other."

It also marked the first win in seven tries for the St. Charles East alum Hawkins against her mentor Jennie Kull, and fittingly the North Stars did it with fundamentally sound volleyball.

The North Stars finished with 35 kills and just six hitting errors. The Saints put away more balls with 41 kills but also hit out or into the net 17 times, and they also missed seven serves in the match while the North Stars didn't miss a single serve.

"The big thing is cleaning up our side of the court," Hawkins said. "We have been focusing so much this year on what is going on on our side of the court and not worrying too much about their side of the court."

St. Charles North got off to a great start in front of a large and lively crowd for both sides. The North Stars led by as many as five points early before falling behind briefly at 15-14 on a block by middle Mikaela Mosquera, who was a force all night for the Saints.

The North Stars closed the game on a 13-2 surge. On one rally during the run Wohlert dug what looked like a sure Saints point, getting the ball to Seavey who set Krage for the kill. Strong serving late from Sam Lappin and Seavey and a couple more Krage kills got the North Stars to game point, which Carroll won with a block.

The Saints bounced back in Game 2 behind 5 kills each from Dana Voltolina and Meagan Smith and 4 from Mosquera. They overcame a 9-3 North Stars run in the middle of the game that put them in a 17-13 hole with an 8-2 burst of their own to go up 21-19. An Anne Hughes ace gave them game point, and Carly Jimenez set Mosquera in the middle for a kill that forced the third game.

"In a gym like this I was very pleased with the way they battled back and won that game," Kull said. "We mixed it up, did some different things."

St. Charles East (12-4, 1-1) had its chance early in Game 3 to take control but missed three straight serves at one point and made several other mistakes.

"The first eight points of the third game were our errors," Kull said. "That's what you live and die with in volleyball."

Leading 15-14 Carroll served four straight points to open a 19-14 lead. The Saints did respond and closed within 21-20 on Mosquera's kill and 22-21 on a North Stars lift, but Krage's tip kill made it 23-21, and Claire Anderson slammed down a Saints overpass for a 24-21 lead setting up Krage's kill on match point.

"We were trying to treat this game like any other game and we just need to take care of business," Hawkins said. "I have so much respect for Jennie Kull and so much respect for that program and that school. We want to emulate their tradition."

Jaclyn Taylor and Daley Krage both had 6 kills for the North Stars and Anderson 4. Wohlert (5 digs), Seavey (10 digs), Sophia DuVall (3 blocks) and Carroll (3 blocks) all made key contributions.

Hughes (21 digs, 2 aces), Jimenez (36 assists, 13 digs), Smith (9 kills, 4 digs), Megan Schildmeyer (9 kills, 2 blocks, 6 digs), Mosquera (11 kills, 3 blocks) and Voltolina (9 kills) led the Saints.

"I was really proud of our kids," Kull said. "Everybody said this team was down or whatever and they proved we are not. If we eliminate those errors, those young mistakes we made, if we get that done by the end of the season, it's going to get better."

Girls Volleyball: Taylor Krage takes St. Charles North past rival East

BY GENE CHAMBERLAIN For Sun-Times Media September 17, 2013 9:08PMUpdated: September 17, 2013 9:18PM

St. Charles East’s young girls volleyball team had found ways Tuesday to counter a rival St. Charles North’s outside power game led by Taylor and Daley Krage.

What East couldn’t match was when Taylor Krage came up with her own counter move. Krage’s off-speed hit provided a 23-21 advantage and the Northern Illinois University recruit put down three of her team’s final four points for a 25-17, 23-25, 25-22 victory in North’s own raucous gym.

“That’s the thing with Taylor is she’s a smart hitter,” North Stars coach Lyndsey Hawkins said. “She’ll come up and she’ll bang a couple balls and then she’ll throw you off with a tip. She’s just real smart. She finds the open court really well and she puts the ball down.”

North broke East’s eight-match winning streak behind 18 kills from Taylor Krage and six by Daley to keep a perfect (1-0 record on the year with its second Upstate Eight River win.

“We knew the atmosphere was going to be crazy,” Taylor Krage said. “Both the teams started off really well this year. It’s always a crazy match.”

North seemed in command of the third set after a five-point run with Emily Carroll serving for a 19-14 lead. But East, as Saints did all night, rallied within 21-20 by relying on the middle hitting of Mikaela Mosquera (11 kills) and the outside attacks of Meagan Smith (9 kills).

“We haven’t played a team that’s been that strong with middles like that,” Krage said. “It was a challenge. We just knew we were going to pull it out in the end.”

Krage then went up and put down a tip kill from what essentially was the back row.

After a setting error put the Saints within a point, Krage went to work again by getting high against the East block, and then putting down an off-speed hit — not quite a tip, but not a full blast.

Claire Anderson’s kill off a free ball made it 24-22 North, and after a long hit by the Stars, Krage’s kill finished the match.

“Our senior leadership -- (setter) Sydney Wohlert, (libero) Alex Seavey and Taylor — they all wanted to win,” Hawkins said. “They wanted this win and have been dreaming about this since they started here. They have been with me a long time and are some of the best senior leaders I’ve had.”

East had 21 digs from libero Anne Hughes and 36 assists by setter Carly Jimenez, but its strength in the middle wasn’t quite enough. And three serving errors in the beginning of the third set returned to haunt the Saints. (12-4, 1-1).

“They have lots of different weapons, they deserved to win,” East coach Jennifer Kull said. “But you can’t miss three serves. The first eight points of the third game were our errors.”

Kull came away feeling positive about her team despite the loss.

“Everybody had said, ‘Oh, this team is down,’ or whatever,” she said. “We proved that we’re not. If we eliminate those errors, we eliminate the young mistakes that we made and we get that done all by the end of the season, it’s going to get better.”

St. Charles North won’t let big win go to its heads 

Daily Herald by John Lemon Article updated: 9/18/2013 5:05 PM 

Super scene: It's always interesting to see what unfolds when St. Charles East and St. Charles North's volleyball teams square off, and Tuesday certainly was no exception.

For the first time in nine tries, St. Charles North was able to come out on top, 25-17, 23-25, 25-22.

North Stars senior Taylor Krage led all players with 18 kills but downplayed the significance of the win afterward. Maybe it's a sign that the North Stars, who improved to 11-0 heading into Wednesday's games, have bigger goals on their mind.

"East game always means a little more but it's not the state championship," Krage said. "Just another game. It's a great game to win but it's just another game."

North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins had a similar take. She didn't seem as interested in talking about getting her first win over the Saints as seeing the continued consistent play by her team taking care of what happens on their side of the net.

"Our team has been working on their resiliency and I think that helps in matches like this because we are not going to give up," said the fifth-year coach.

Gracious in defeat: Saints coach Jennie Kull had kind words for Hawkins afterward.

Hawkins played on Kull's 2001 state championship team at St. Charles.

"I'm proud of what she's doing. You love to win but when they aren't playing us I'm rooting for them," Kull said of the North Stars. "I'm glad she has put the program together like she has. She's a wonderful person. If they are going to beat us I'm glad it is a former Saint who did it."

Chicago Sun-Times    From the Back Row by Pat Brozynski

Another grudge match in the Upstate Eight Conference Tuesday saw St. Charles North nudge their rivals from St. Charles East 25-17, 23-25, 25-22.

"The atmosphere was intense and the match was a dogfight for both teams," St. Charles North coach Lindsey Hawkins said.

Taylor Krage led the way for St. Charles North with 18 kills. Jaclyn Taylor and Daley Krage each had six kills and Claire Anderson added four. Alex Seavey anchored the defense with 10 digs, Taylor Krage had six and Sydney Wohlert added five. Sophia DuVall and Emily Carroll both had three blocks.

The North Stars are now 11-0 and play Plainfield Central and Hinsdale Central in pool play at the Wheaton Classic on Wednesday. St. Charles East slipped to 12-4.

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