Girls Volleyball: Shepard tops Oak Lawn
By Tony Baranek tbaranek@southtownstar.com October 2, 2012 10:28PM
Updated: November 4, 2012 6:18AM
Keep on pushing.
That, Shepard’s Natalie Carberry said, is pretty much the attitude the Astros have been taking during one of the program’s best starts to a conference season.
Tuesday’s 25-22, 25-22 victory over visiting Oak Lawn has Shepard (13-4 overall) at 9-0 in the South Suburban Red and in front of the pack by two games in the chase for the league title.
“It’s a great start to our season, but we’re staying focused,” Carberry said. “We’ve still got some big matches left (among them Lemont and Richards), and we’re going for it.”
Carberry battled through flu symptoms, never leaving the floor. She finished with 10 digs, nine kills and an ace. Stephanie Korbakes added seven kills and four solo blocks, Chrystal McAlpin three blocks, Caroline Graham 20 assists and Franchesca Graffeo 20 digs.
Oak Lawn (18-4, 8-2) was led by Simona Tomczak (11 kills, 6 digs), Rachel Kestian (20 assists, 6 digs), Olivia Lindner (12 digs) and Tracy Peck (7 digs).
Both sets came down to clutch plays at the end, and in both cases it was Shepard who stepped up.
In Set 1, the Spartans rallied from a 21-15 deficit to get to within 24-22 when, after a successful serve-receive by Graffeo, Graham set Korbakes in the back row.
“I just knew that we needed to get the ball down,” Korbakes said. “My teammates helped me out with a great pass and set. I just placed the ball where I could.”
It landed a couple of feet in front of the back line for the set-clinching kill.
In Set 2, Oak Lawn took a 22-21 lead via a kill by Lindner and an ace serve by Bradshaw. A net violation by the Spartans retied it, after which Carberry put down two kills to help close it out.
“I think they outplayed us,” Oak Lawn coach Dennis McNamara said. “They dictated most of the rallies. Their serving was real aggressive and we didn’t pass real well. Defensively, our block was not a factor, and it had to be with their two nice hitters (Carberry and Korbakes) over there. Give them a lot of credit.”
