Lemont wins despite shaky start

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:22PM

The team leader isn't back, but Lemont is - back to .500.

The No. 7 Indians, playing without 2009 All-Area outside hitter Courtney Keefe, overcame a shaky start Thursday to take down host Evergreen Park 25-19, 25-13 in a South Suburban Conference crossover.

Danielle Susz had eight kills and four blocks, Becca Brabec and Emily Brown four kills each, Melissa Bograd seven digs and Vicki Wrobel 22 assists as Lemont improved to 4-4, 2-0.

Evergreen Park (1-3, 0-2) was led by Erin Crane (seven kills), Colleen Burns (11 digs) and Chelsea Christopher (10 assists).

The Indians have been without the 5-foot-11 Keefe since she suffered a right ankle injury during the Benet Invitational.

"Against Waubonsie Valley I went up to block and I landed on someone's foot," she said. "I went down instantly, but I got back up. I played the rest of the game and against Benet, but I was out for the rest of the tournament."

Lemont entered the week at 2-4. Keefe, meanwhile, visited a doctor Monday.

"It's scary," she said. "When you go down you get that fear of being out for the whole season. You can get teary-eyed and scared and stuff."

Her teammates - facing the possibility they might lose a key member of a team that's expected to challenge for state supremacy in Class 3A - were a bit nervous, too.

"I think all of our hearts dropped when she went down," Bograd said. "I know I was like, ‘Oh, my God. What's going to happen now?' "

Keefe got her doctor's clearance to play, but at the behest of her therapist decided to sit out Tuesday's win over Oak Lawn and Thursday's match.

The Mustangs, who suffered a tough loss Tuesday to Tinley Park, came out swinging. Emma Point and Erin Crane each had kills during an early 5-1 run.

The Mustangs were in front at 14-11 when Brown started the turnaround for Lemont with a kill. Brown then teamed up with Susz for a double-block during an 8-1 run that allowed the Indians to take command.

Susz was a force in Game 2, especially during an early 8-0 run in which she put down four kills.

On this night, Keefe could watch with a smile.

"We've worked around it and tried to figure out how to make things work without her," Susz said. "I mean, we need her. We love her. But we can still accomplish things."

For Evergreen Park, it was a confidence-building loss.

"I'm very proud of what we accomplished today," Crane said "Lemont has a big name. They're a big team. I was hoping for the best today, and this shows how good we can be. We'll keep working up to it."

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