ELGIN -- Starting the season with a win -- sweet.
Starting the season with a win over your crosstown rival -- even sweeter.
Elgin tipped off the season on Thursday with a compelling 25-20, 23-25, 26-24 nonconference victory over Larkin at Chesbrough Field House.
The Maroons staved off match point in Game 3 before eventually winning on an errant kill attempt that sailed past the back line by the visiting Royals.
"I credit the leadership from our captains, Mary Taylor and Lindsey Morrow. They were able to keep us on an even keel," second-year Elgin coach Keith Foster said. "This is now the second year we've played together and they are starting to gel together and starting to know where each other is at on the court."
After dropping Game 2, the Maroons jumped out to an 18-14 edge in the deciding game before the Royals (0-2) rallied for four straight points to knot the score at 18 following a combined block-kill at the net by seniors Jessica Garrity and Natalie Beaver. Larkin later took its final lead, 24-23, and had a chance to ice the victory, but a kill attempt was hit into the net to force another tie. Elgin immediately took advantage, pulling ahead 25-24 on a kill by sophomore Kendall Martin (match-high 18 kills) that just snuck inside the back line.
"We knew the match was going to be close because we are pretty equal in talent," said Martin, who had seven kills in the final game. "We wanted to win this and we knew what we had to do."
Elgin controlled Game 1 from the outset, jumping out to an 8-3 lead on the strength of two kills and an ace by Martin and a kill by Taylor. The Maroons then stretched the advantage to as much as 19-11, before the Royals clawed back to get within 19-18. However, Elgin was eventually able to close out the win after a series of key kills by senior Ellen Holton (14 kills).
"I think what set the tone was (Holton)," Foster said. "Everyone knows Kendall Martin. They know her name and what she can do. (Larkin) set up to stop Kendall in the first game and as soon as (Holton) started making a name for herself in the front row they kind of had to rethink things."
Larkin, which was defeated by powerful St. Charles East in its opener on Wednesday, displayed plenty of resiliency in Game 2, coming back from a 6-3 deficit to surge ahead 9-8 on a thundering kill by Puerto Rican transfer Isadora Borrero (4 kills, 6 blocks). Borrero was just getting started. The 5-foot-10 middle hitter took over the game, racking up a block and three straight kills to put the Royals up 13-8.
"Isadora is brand-new to our organization and she is one of our strongest hitters," Larkin coach Gail Johnson said. "She has some experience and she is going to be a great asset to our team."
Elgin would eventually rally in Game 2, tying the score at 21 following back-to-back kills by Holton, but the Royals responded with an ace and a kill by junior Amanda Lye (3 kills) to regain control.
"I think we can be pretty proud of ourselves," Larkin senior captain Jessica Harris said. "There's always room to improve, but I think we are going to win a lot more games than last season."
Lindsey Hedl added 12 digs for Elgin and Morrow tallied eight digs. Liza Smithberger had six assists and Claire Sherman recorded six digs for Larkin.
Elgin will next compete in the Jacobs Invitational on Saturday. The Royals host Hoffman Estates on Monday.
Related Content [Click to close/expand]
Close
Community Login
You've successfully logged in to the Sun-Times News group Community, click the close button to return to browsing.
Facebook App
Font Size
Email
Bookmark
Black Text
Cell Phone Alerts
Photos: Maroons knock off Larkin