It’s postseason time for girls’ volleyball. 12th-seeded Waubonsie Valley girls’ volleyball travels to Oswego East for a regional semifinal matchup against 5th-seeded Lincoln-Way West. This highlight is sponsored by BMO.
Lincoln-Way West and Waubonsie go head-to-head in the first set
We start the action with the first set tied at four as Naisha Khanna’s serve causes trouble for the West defense.
Back and forth we go. Ashley Miller sets things up for West and Ashley Dace finishes off the play with a kill. Lincoln-Way goes up 8-7.
A couple of points later Waubonsie is looking to pull away. Olivia O’Hara sets up Kaitlyn Reinhard whose hit goes off of two West players putting WV up 14-11.
Lincoln-Way West continues to battle back. This time Ashley Miller plays Elly Decker who finds the open court for the point. West trails 19-17.
Two points later both squads go back and forth in this rally. It comes to an end when Naisha Khanna drops the ball just over the net. 21-19 WV.
West now trailing 21-20 as Laney Tuttle and Ashley Miller both get down for one-handed digs to keep the play alive. WV returns the ball just for Caroline Smith to put the play to bed. Just like that, we are tied at 21.
24-23 now in favor of Lincoln-Way West as Kaitlyn Reinhard’s serve goes out of bounds. West takes set one 25-23.
Waubonsie Valley battles back to win the second set
Lincoln-Way West already with an early lead in the second set as Caroline Smith goes up for another kill. West up 7-2 early in this one.
However, WV fights back scoring six unanswered points thanks to an ace from Kaitlyn Reinhard who ties the game at 12.
West once again starting to pull away as Caroline Smith goes up for the block on Ava Bellafiore putting Lincoln-Way up 20-15.
WV continues to fight back. Maddie Hwang sets up Naomi Dowd who finds the back left corner for the kill. Green and gold trails 21-19.
Waubonsie doesn’t slow down in the late stages of the second set. Ava Bellafiore’s hit looks to be a miss-hit but it doesn’t matter as it stays fair. WV wins set two 25-23.
Lincoln-Way West barely inches past Waubonsie Valley in the third set
Serving to start the third set is Sam Miserendino who picks up an early ace for Waubonsie.
Much like the first two sets, there’s not much to separate the teams as Ashley Miller picks up an ace of her own tying the game at ten.
Serving again for Waubonsie is Sam Miserendino who tallies another ace. WV retakes the lead 13-12.
Both teams continue to trade points. This time it’s Ashley Miller going up for the block on Naomi Dowd putting West up 18-17.
Match point now for Lincoln-Way West. Lily Goyer goes up for the finishing blow but blocking the kill at the net is Naisha Khanna who keeps Waubonsie’s hopes alive.
West up 24-23 as Khanna’s serve hits the net. After three 25-23 sets Lincoln-Way West barely takes down Waubonsie Valley girls’ volleyball. West advances to the regional final against Romeoville.
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