PREP GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Wauconda wins Rams Slam
GRAYSLAKE – The Wauconda Bulldogs won four of five matches here Saturday to win the eight-team Ram Slam Invitational prep girls volleyball tournament hosted here by the Grayslake Central Rams.
The Bulldogs defeated Johnsburg and Grayslake North, and lost to DeKalb in pool play, then knocked off Richmond in the semifinals and Johnsburg for the second time … this time in the finals.
Richmond finished third, Grayslake Central fourth, Grayslake North sixth and North Chicago eighth.
Grayslake Central went 3-0 in pool play, beating Rockford Jefferson, North Chicago and Richmond. But the home team faltered in the afternoon, falling first to Johnsburg and then to Richmond in a third-place battle.
“We had a great morning, going 3-0, but we had a rough afternoon,” said Rams coach Jason Janczak. “I was pleased with the way we played with intensive and enthusiasm.
“We’ve made a lot of progress in the last week, and the girls are ready to work hard in the week ahead.”
Among the top players for the Rams in the tourney were Tory Dohm (leader in kills), Ambert Bewko (second on team in kills), Emily Anderson (top setter) and Lauren Novak (second-best in assists).
Grayslake North dropped to 1-6 on the season after going 1-4 in the Slam.
Coach Nikki Kirchway saw some positives in the way the Knights refused to fold in several matches.
“There were some balls that I did not think we were going to get to, but we did,” she said. “Our defense and unbelievable hustle helped us stat in every match.”
Top players on the day for Grayslake North included Kaitlyn Klausner, Areli Lopez, Sarah Walker, Brianna Leon, Taylor York, Lauren Trahan, Laura Mendoza, Kelsi Leith and Rosey Vergera.
RAM SLAM SCOREBOARD
POOL PLAY
Green Pool
Grayslake Central 3-0
Richmond 2-1
Rockford Jefferson 1-2
North Chicago 0-3
White Pool
Wauconda 2-1
Johnsburg 2-1
DeKalb 2-1
Grayslake North 0-3
SEMIFINALS
Johnsburg def. Grayslake Central
Wauconda def. Richmond
THIRD PLACE
Richmond def. Grayslake Central
FINALS
Wauconda def. Johnsburg
5TH PLACE
DeKalb def. Grayslake North
7th PLACE
Rockford Jefferson def. North Chicago
