L-P sweeps Sycamore

Despite playing its third match in four days, Mark Haberkorn was pleased with the energy his La Salle-Peru volleyball team had Thursday.

The Cavaliers, who played three set matches Monday and Tuesday, used runs in the middle of both sets to beat Sycamore, 25-22, 25-18, in an Interstate 8 Conference match in La Salle.

“I thought we played with a lot of energy, a lot of passion and a lot of enthusiasm,” Haberkorn said. “The girls were really excited to ply tonight, and it showed.

“I thought we made a lot of great plays out there. We got a lot of blocks. We moved the ball around on offense. I can’t think of one thing I would say we were average at tonight. I thought everything was excellent.”

Sycamore scored the first three points of the match before senior Aubrey Garretson put down a kill to get the Cavs started.

L-P tied it at 5 on a block by Ella Thompson and took the lead for good at 9-8 on a service error by the Spartans.

Garretson and Ashley Urbanski slammed down kills on back-to-back plays to spark a 10-3 run that gave L-P an 18-11 lead.

The Spartans rallied within two at 23-21 before a block by Olivia Shetterly and a Sycamore error closed out the set.

“We played really well,” Garretson said. “We played really well together. We communicated. I think everything came together well.

“We had great back row play, which allowed our setters to get some great sets, and we had good hits on top of that.”

The Cavs (5-5, 3-4 I8) put together another run midway through the second set to take control.

Up 12-8, Garretson put down a kill, Thompson had a tip and Ashley Urbanski recorded a block to spark a 7-3 surge to increase L-P’s lead to 19-11.

Sycamore again rallied, pulling within five several times, but Garretson’s sixth kill of the night ended the match.

“Our passing was sharp,” Haberkorn said. “We were able to keep Sycamore guessing who we were going to set and where we were going to go. It all starts with a pass. I thought our setters did an excellent job finding the hitters.”

Kenzie DeFosse led the L-P defense with 12 digs, while Jaidynne Lash added 11 digs.

Ashley Urbanski led a strong defensive effort at the net with four blocks, while Thompson had three.

“Taylor Martyn, Jaidynne Lash and Kenzie DeFosse covered the floor,” Haberkorn said. “Very few balls hit the floor. Our blocking was there again. We got a lot of touches and a lot of blocks. That’s the first line of defense. What did get through, I thought the back row stepped up and was able to put them up where we can get into our offense.”

Sycamore coach Jennifer Charles said she felt her team played better than the Spartans did in a 25-14, 25-16 loss to L-P on March 24.

“We played much better than the first time we played,” Charles said. “I thought defensively we did a much better job. I think our middles played very, very well. Overall, it was a better performance.”

Mallory Larson had 10 assists and three kills for Sycamore (1-7 I8), while Hannah Ekstrom put down seven kills.