New Trier overcomes rough second game

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:10PM

Cami Begou was at this stage as a sophomore in 2008 and experienced the disappointment of defeat.

The New Trier senior was on the other side Thursday in Skokie after the No. 2-seeded Trevians beat host and No. 4-seeded Niles West 25-22, 19-25, 25-17 to earn the program's first sectional championship since 2006.

The Trevians will play York at the Schaumburg Supersectional on Saturday for an opportunity to go to the state tournament. New Trier last played at the state tournament in 2006, ending a four-year run.

"This is really awesome," said Begou, whose team improved to 26-11 following its third win over the Wolves this season. "We are one step closer."

The Trevians trailed 16-8 in the first set before they turned the tide with a 9-0 run to go ahead. Ava Kelley scored six points during the set-changing stretch.

"The team decided to not let the fans get to us," said Kelley, who finished with nine kills. Freshman Taylor Tashima contributed a team-best 10 kills.

Behind Milena Zalloni, the Wolves (23-12) used their own late-set run to even the match in the second set.

But New Trier was too much for Niles West in the third set, going up 6-0 and never looking back.

"We are a heavy momentum team," Begou said. "We just got on a roll."

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