Oak Lawn makes recovery

Comparing the team that lost its season opener Tuesday to Chicago Christian and the one that took on Mount Assisi on Wednesday, Oak Lawn coach Dennis McNamara had a little trouble recognizing his squad.

Rebounding from its season-opening loss, Oak Lawn outlasted Mount Assisi 25-20, 26-28, 25-23 in a back-and-forth nonconference match.

"Compared to what we had (Tuesday), we looked like a different team, as far as execution goes," a relieved McNamara said. "I really enjoyed the way we played. Mount Assisi's defense was phenomenal, and they just kept coming at us, but we weathered the storm and got the win."

Senior outside hitter Kelly Knudsen was one of three Spartans with at least seven kills, tallying 13, with nine digs. Senior Alicia Krupa added nine kills and seven digs, with Jackie Larson contributing seven kills.

"It was a good win, seeing how we lost (Tuesday)," Knudsen said. "But we really played as a team (Wednesday). We have so many players who can play middle or right side or back row. It helps us and its throw off defenses.

In the opener, Mount Assisi (1-1) scored the first four points, but down 10-8, Oak Lawn (1-1) scored five unanswered points and six of seven overall as the Spartans took the lead.

Riding three service aces and two Knudsen kills, Oak Lawn capped the first game on a 6-1 run.

After struggling through much of the second game, the Eagles put together a run of their own late to take the lead. Down 19-14, Mount Assisi scored 10 of the next 13 points. When Oak Lawn was called for two touches, Mount Assisi claimed the win to force a third game.

"We tried to keep positive in that second game because we were a little down," Knudsen said. "In the third game, we just brought the enthusiasm up."

Both teams saved their best for the third game. The biggest deficit either team faced was four points, with Oak Lawn up 14-10.

After a Krupa kill put Oak Lawn up 23-21, Mount Assisi's Kathryn Landis notched her fifth kill to draw her team to within one, but on the next serve an Eagles block went out of bounds.

An Annie Szram kill brought Mount Assisi to within one, but Krupa finished the match with a kill.

Just two matches into the season, McNamara hopes his girls don't get too down on themselves with a few bad plays.

"I think the problem that we're having right now is the mental side of the game," McNamara said. "If we make an error, we get kind of down. What we're going to have to learn as the season goes along is to stay up and rely on the good plays and not the bad ones."