Libertyville's season comes to an end

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:10PM

You can blame the passing game for this loss. But nothing can

take away from a brilliant campaign of the Libertyville volleyball team. The

end came at the Warren Sectional on Tuesday night. After two well played

sets, Stevenson (30-8) controlled set three and posted a 25-23, 19-25, 25-13

win. The Wildcats finished at 35-3.

"We played OK defensively,'' said Libertyville coach Greg Loika. "But we

weren't passing really well the whole night. Cindy (Zhou) was running all

over the place.''

On an ace from MaKenzie O'Brien, the Wildcats held a 23-22 lead in set one.

Stevenson closed with the close win in set one. The Cats did not trail in

set two and on a Paige Hopper kill, Libertyville seemed to have reclaimed

the momentum. The third set wasn't close at all.

"I felt good after the second set,'' Loika said. "It was very back and

forth. But you can't make those kind of mistakes. It hurts to go out when

you don't play your best.''

Catie Steffen closed our her strong senior season with nine kills and 15

digs. Fellow outside hitter Hopper added seven kills and 11 digs. Also

helping the cause were Kristen Webb (21 digs), Hannah Saia (11 digs), Zhou

(19 assists, five kills) and Kerry Risley (three kills).

"We lose a ton of leadership with those senior outsides,'' Loika said. "But

we have some great players coming back."

Recap: The Wildcats regional run went through Mundelein. After falling

behind 9-2 to Carmel on Saturday, Libertyville turned it and ended the

Corsairs season 26-24, 25-11. Hopper and Steffen led the attack with seven

kills each. Webb led the defense with 20 digs. Setter Zhou notched 16

assists. It was Liberyville's first regional title since the 2007 campaign.

The Wildcats reached this match because they dropped Warren 25-14, 25-17

last Thursday.

"That wasn't the cleanest match we've played,'' Loika noted.

Steffen had seven kills.

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