OTTAWA – The Sycamore volleyball club, head coach Jennifer Charles will admit, has had some ups and downs this season and why that is may have been evident in Tuesday night’s three-set victory over Ottawa.
The Spartans came out strong and rolled through the first set in dominating fashion, but then took their collective foot off the gas pedal and allowed the Pirates to surge to a whopping 20-10 advantage in the second game.
The return of all the Sycamore starters made that game close and that continued in a very strong third set, finishing off a 25-14, 21-25, 25-11 victory here in Kingman Gym.
Kylie Feuerbach hammered down 14 kills, six and five coming in the first and third sets, and junior setter Mallory Larson was spot-on with her passing throughout to lead the way for the Spartans, who move to 14-18 overall and 7-4 in the Interstate Eight Conference.
“One thing we have to learn is that we can’t take our foot off the pedal, that we have to keep going, to keep putting pressure on regardless of who we have on the floor,” said Charles. “Other than that, I was pleased, especially in our offense after a tournament where we weren’t as good as I would have liked. Kylie did a very good job taking care of business on the outside and Mallory did a good job making our offense flow, seeing what hitters were hot and feeding them.
“And our middles did a good job blocking, something we’ve been working very hard on. We’re young and we have our good days and our bad days, but the big thing is that we are competing and making sure were learning from every experience on the court and we’re doing that. Sometimes wins aren’t pretty wins, but we’ll take them.”
Up just 13-11 in the opening game, a Feuerbach shoot for sideout set up a huge nine-point service run by Emma Winters to all but close it out.
In the second set, it was Ottawa’s turn to expand a small lead, with four points from Lily Miller and three from Jenna Nink to create the home team’s 20-10 lead. The starters return, keyed by front row play from Lauren Smid, got Sycamore within 23-20 before a pair of errors proved costly.
But a key eight-point service burst from Larson – three on kills from Feuerbach - start the deciding set with momentum back the Spartans way. A Caylee Sharkey sideout kill and five points from Hannah Vogel finished off the match, the final point on one of five kills by Isabella Jackson.
PREP SWIMMING
DeKalb strong in finale: A trio of DeKalb-Sycamore swimmers won multiple events, as the Barbs were first in every individual event in a 94-68 win against South Elgin.
Grace Flemming won the 200-yard freestyle and the 500 free. Elizabeth White won the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly. Nicole Skrzypek won the 50 and 100 free.
Julia Rasmussen won the 100 breaststroke and Rebecca Nenonen won the 100 backstroke.
The Barbs are at a tournament at Metea Valley this weekend before returning there next weekend for the DuPage Valley Conference tournament.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
G-K falls to Mendota: The Cogs lost, 25-15, 23-25, 25-22.
Lily Mueller had 10 kills while Lily McPherson had four digs in the loss.
Kaneland beats Morris: The Knights won, 25-16, 25-10.
Kaneland improves to 20-7 overall and 10-1 in the Interstate Eight.
GIRLS TENNIS
DeKalb beats Harlem: The Barbs were 4-1 winners in their final regular season match.
Noemi Fuentes was a 7-5, 6-2 winner at No. 1 with Addie Lopez winning 6-0, 6-2 at No. 2.
In doubles, Ashley Nelson and Hoa Vo were 6-4, 1-6, 10-5 winners at No. 2 while Ilanie Castorena and Camryn Mason were 4-6, 6-1, 10-2 come from behind winners.
• Charlie Ellerbrock contributed to this report. He can be reached at cellerbrock@shawmedia.com