SOMONAUK – Four goals over a 22-minute span put the Serena boys soccer team ahead.
Then the Huskers had to hold on.
They did, and No. 6 Serena upset No. 3 Somonauk in the opening round of the Little Ten Conference Tournament on Monday, 4-3.
“Great game for the Huskers,” Serena coach Dean DeRango said. “We finally put it all together and pretty much played a complete game. ... The best thing about tonight is that we get to play a couple more games. I am so proud of my kids.”
After Somonauk struck first and took a 1-0 lead into halftime, Serena scored three times – a Conner Holdiman goal on a penalty kick, a Cam Figgins goal and a Tanner Faivre strike off a Holdiman helper – to go up 3-1. The teams took turns scoring from there to account for the final, with Holdiman’s second score (off a Figgins assist) accounting for the Huskers’ fourth goal.
Earlville 9, DePue-Hall 1: At Earlville, the host Red Raiders advanced in the Little Ten Conference Tournament with the commanding win led by Diego Vazquez’s three-goal, two-assist effort, and a two-goal, one-assist day courtesy of Devyn Kennedy. Bryar Keller, Jeremy Wainmouth, Jeremy Gomez and Connor Cook each had a goal, while Griffin Cook and Davis Sweeney had assists.
The Raiders host Serena in the semifinals Tuesday.
Rochelle 10, Ottawa 0: At Rochelle, the Pirates were shut out in their Interstate Eight Conference Tournament opener.
Ottawa is scheduled to play Plano on Wednesday in the consolation bracket.
Kaneland 8, Sandwich 0: Also in the I-8 Tournament, the Indians dropped their tourney opener to fall to 0-11 despite 10 saves from Johnathan Carlson.
Girls volleyball
Seneca def. Marquette 22-25, 25-21, 25-20: At Bader Gym, the host Crusaders took the Tri-County Conference-leading Irish to a rubber game before falling.
Addie McConnaughhay tallied seven kills, 12 digs and a pair of aces for Marquette. Mary Lechtenberg put down six kills and added six blocks. Lindsey Kaufmann tallied 6 kills and 10 digs, while setter Kaylee Kaufmann racked up 31 assists.
Newark def. Hinckley-Big Rock 25-11, 25-6: In Little Ten Conference play, the Norsemen (13-2 overall, 8-0 LTC) rolled paced by Madi Malone’s 11 kills and three aces, Megan Williams and KJ Friestad with five kills apiece and Taylor Christian’s 26 assists.
Kaneland def. Sandwich 25-18, 25-20: In Interstate Eight competition, Cailyn Brummel (six assists, two kills), Claire Allen (five blocks), Olive Tornga (10 digs) and Sophia Datoli (five digs, two kills) paced the Indians, now 6-9 overall and 4-5 in the I-8.
JV girls volleyball
Seneca def. Marquette 23-25, 25-20, 25-22: At Bader Gym, Emma Rinearson (10 kills, eight digs, two blocks), Maisie Lyons (seven kills,10 digs , two aces), Darby Morganflash (13 digs) and Maera Jimenez (28 assists, five digs) led Marquette.
Freshman girls volleyball
Marquette def. Seneca 25-16, 25-15: At Ottawa, the host Cru saw Emma Rinearson put down eight kills, Gwyn Verona add four kills, and Grace Dose set 16 assists and add two aces.