Saints overwhelm Stars, head to sectional final
GENEVA -- On a big stage against its biggest rival, St. Charles East again demonstrated the intensity and skill that made it state champion a year ago.
The Saints were simply too much for St. Charles North on Tuesday, winning 25-16, 25-17, and putting themselves on the doorstep of winning the Geneva Class 4A Sectional, a victory that would give East its third straight sectional crown.
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"Our kids haven't played quite that well in a while," East coach Jennie Kull said. "I know they were focused. I knew they were ready to play, I could feel it."
East was clicking on all cylinders right from the get-go, going up 10-1 in the first set on a Jacqui Seidel kill that followed a pair of digs from Meghan Niski and Maisey Mulvey.
"We just tried to stay relaxed at the start so we wouldn't let our nerves get the best of us," said Seidel, who finished with 10 kills, nine digs and three blocks.
Still getting better from an ankle injury, Seidel's return to the starting lineup gave East (31-6) a shot in the arm.
"That was great to see Jacqui starting," Kull said. "Her energy was there. Everyone just felt at home again."
That lead got as big as 16-4 before the North Stars finally seemed to get their footing in the match. An ace from Karlie Giesler brought North (25-12) to within seven at 21-14, but by then it was too late. Kathleen Dailey won the final two points of the set for the Saints on a kill and a block to give East the opening set 25-16.
"Last time we came out really strong and then they won the first game," said Meghan Niski, who finished with eight kills and 11 digs. "So this time we tried to keep our emotions more in check."
After East opened the second set up 4-0 on a Seidel kill, North closed in, tying the match at six and then going ahead 8-7 on an unforced error from East.
But the Saints couldn't be held down for long, winning 12 of the next 16 points to go ahead 19-12 on another Seidel kill.
"Our girls gave it their best," North coach Lindsey Hawkins said. "There were things that we could have done better. We definitely needed to clean up the errors on our side and they did a good job of exploiting them. They are a good team."
The North Stars won the next four points before the Saints finished off the match by winning six of the last seven. Seidel wrapped up the win with her 10th kill of the match.
"We stayed aggressive the whole match," Seidel said. "We sided out quick, didn't let mistakes get to us and eliminated our errors. We just played our game and controlled everything."
While Seidel showed little side effects from an ankle injury, outside hitter Caroline Niski only hit the court at the end of the match, coming up with a kill late in the second set.
"(Caroline) did a little bit at practice yesterday," Kull said. "But we're confident in Samantha Szarmach. She's been doing a fabulous job. But it was great to get Caroline in."
Szarmach had six kills and Erienne Barry had nine digs and 22 assists.
The Saints will meet York in the sectional final on Thursday. The Dukes defeated sectional host Geneva 19-25,25-16, 25-16 in the night's second match.
North was led by Giesler (3 kills), Jen Ask (2 kills, 3 aces) and Miranda Coello (7 digs).
"It's always going to be a really intense match," Hawkins said. "We just couldn't seem to get the momentum on our side in the match."
