St. Charles East hangs on to beat York

Saints claim third straight sectional title

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November 6, 2009

By BRANDON MANGIA For Sun-Times Media

GENEVA -- St. Charles East has heard the theory about teams being nervous and playing timid in the postseason. To the Saints, it's just a rumor.

After dropping the second set 18-25 to York in the title match of the Geneva Class 4A Sectional, the Saints stayed composed, changed the lineup a bit and took control for a 25-22, 18-25, 25-19 win and their third consecutive sectional title. The win also marks the second year in a row East has ended York's season in the sectional title match.

"You can't play nervous, you just have to do it and get it done," said East senior Sam Szarmach. "The experience definitely pays off. We've been in this situation before and we know we can come back from behind."

The triumph allows East (32-6) to return home for a Super-Sectional match against Cary-Grove (35-4) on Saturday. A win there will give the Saints their third straight trip Downstate and a chance to defend last year's state title.

"Not only did we want to win the sectional championship and obviously make another run to state, but we also knew that this was another chance to play in our home gym," said senior Jacqui Seidel. "That's one thing we want more than anything because our senior night didn't go very well, so to have another chance is great."

After seeing York's Lauren Zerante make it tough for Seidel to slam home kills in the first two sets, the coaching staff rotated some players around to give Seidel a better matchup.

The move worked wonders as Seidel collected six of her 11 kills in the third set in a dominating performance.

"It's what ended up working," Seidel said. "In the first set Meghan (Niski) and Sam were hot. We just tried to go with the hot player and take advantage of it."

York (28-9) led East 10-9 in the final set, but the Saints went on a 5-0 run to take command.

Szarmach, an outside hitter who entered the lineup three weeks ago for an injured Caroline Niski, ended the match with one of her seven kills.

"I'm so happy I can contribute to our team now and we're playing great," Szarmach said. "We're hurting without Caroline but we're pulling along without her."

Added East coach Jennie Kull: "Sam did a great job and we can use Caroline if we need her so that's always nice. With everybody being as young as they are, they're just enjoying this and that's the most exciting part."

Sophomore Meghan Niski led the way in the first set by striking for six of her team-high 13 kills. Niski, along with Szarmach and Seidel were also part of a front row that had the challenge of stopping Zerante, a Bradley recruit.

With the Saints up by one, Seidel had a block-kill to help her team go up 15-13 as part of a three-point run that gave the Saints their first separation of the night.

Zerante finished with a match-high 15 kills, five of which came in York's second-set win.

"That's the thing with this team, they've been here before and they've seen it," Kull said. "They don't get too frustrated like other teams would. That's one thing we talk about: it doesn't matter about the emotions. It matters about getting the job done." Volleyball | Geneva Class 4A Sectional