The postseason has arrived for girls volleyball as Naperville Central is the host of the regional semifinal as the 8th-seeded Redhawks hope to get back to the championship for second straight season. They take on 10th-seeded Lake Park who is looking to build on their sectional semifinal run from last season. This highlight is sponsored by BMO.
Lake Park gets started early
It’s a promising start for the Lancers as they hold a 3-1 lead. The Redhawks want to cut into it but Lake Park won’t allow that because Sam Kuman jumps up for the kill to extend the lead.
Naperville Central knows it’s early, so they call up Georgia Von Lehmden for a kill of her own, and Central trails 7-6.
11-9 Lancers and they keep stealing momentum with an ace from Jillian Gibbons.
The Redhawks don’t despite trailing 16-12 so Sarah Butler sets up Makenna Devick for the kill.
Lancers sneak away in set one
Although the late surge is not enough in set one and Kuman ends the first with a point and Lake Park takes it 25-23.
Central flips the script in set two
It’s win-or-go-home time for Naperville Central so Georgia Von Lehmden gets a solid kill to give her team a 4-3 lead.
The Redhawks remain up by one point and Butler who’s been setting up the attempts gets a scoring chance of her own as she just taps the ball over everyone’s head.
The Lancers keep up the pace by getting a quick kill from Monica Lukasiewicz to make it an 11-9 deficit.
Now, both teams hit the rally button. Lake Park gets the ball on their side, wanting to gain more ground but after the send back here comes Paige Wyllie with a kill that grows the lead to four.
Don’t count out the Lancers just yet because Kuman sends Wyllie an invitation to her block party and they cut it to 23-19.
Set point in favor of Central up 24-20, and Wyllie will not be denied this time. She hits the ball and puts it right on the spot to force a third set.
As we approach the third the Redhawks pick the right time to hit the dominate button starting with Devick who easily lobs one over for the point and an 8-4 lead.
Redhawks punch their ticket to the girl’s volleyball regional final
Cece Morgan hops in on the fun by serving up an ace that makes it 20-8 Redhawks.
Sophia Zanca, come on down you are the next contestant on kill fest. Zanca gets the job done and continues to grow the lead.
Match point coming up and Butler keeps the Naperville Central season alive with a match-ending point. The Redhawks take down the Lancers in three sets and will face Glenbard West in the girls volleyball regional finals.
For more prep sports highlights, visit the Naperville Sports Weekly page!
