Girls Volleyball: Lincoln-Way Central defeats Lincoln-Way North
By Tony Baranek tbaranek@southtownstar.com September 13, 2012 10:16PM
Lincoln-Way Central's Maria Brown (3) goes up for a kill against Lincoln-Way North's Lorin Pedersoli (left) and Casey Zimmerman during their volleyball game in Frankfort Square Thursday, September 13, 2012. | Brett Roseman~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: October 15, 2012 9:38AM
Lincoln-Way Central’s Maria Brown doesn’t have any problems getting revved up to play against Lincoln-Way North.
Not with her mom (Mary Brown) on the Phoenix bench as the head coach.
“It’s more important than a normal win. It feels better — even if we’re going to hear about it at home later,” Brown said with a big smile after Central’s 25-20, 25-23 road victory Thursday.
The 5-foot-8 junior outside hitter was a thorn in her mom’s side in multiple ways, putting down eight kills and totaling seven digs and two blocks for the No. 6 Knights (4-1). Other standouts for Central were Amanda Dolan (5 kills), Jacqueline Langer (4 kills), Claire Vrabec (4 aces), Morgan Commet (9 digs), Toni Leitshuh (7 digs) and Kaitlyn Siadek (17 assists, 7 digs).
Ashley Pickert had six kills, Michelle Scott nine digs, Jackie Billie six digs, Valen Manns three blocks and Shannon Murphy 11 assists for North (7-3).
Central was far from sharp, but didn’t break while leading every step of the way save a 2-1 North edge in Set 1.
“It sure did not feel like that,” Knights coach Kathy Sulkowski said. “I honestly felt the whole time that I had to stay on the girls, keep pushing them to stay in control of the match.
“Luckily, they pulled it out, but I still feel North did a great job of blocking on some of our big hitters, and made impressive defensive plays that kept them in the games.”
Dolan, a 6-3 middle, was key at crunch time in Set 1, accounting for three of the Knights’ final four points with two blocks and a critical off-balance kill during a scramble at the net.
In Set 2, Vrabec served for the first five points, landing three aces. Brown had three late kills that kept the Phoenix from getting any closer than one.
“We just have it in our minds to never give the lead up,” Vrabec said. “We just never let our guard down for anything. And if they get a run on us, we make sure we get it right back with the hardest kill or the best service ace you could ever have.”
