Payton, Young advance to Public League final

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:22PM

The girls volleyball teams from Payton and Young advanced, as expected, to the Public League championship. But both teams have eyes on a bigger prize.

Payton stopped Jones 25-13, 25-18 and Young knocked off Von Steuben 25-12, 25-16 on Thursday at Young to set up the championship Saturday afternoon at UIC.

"Our ultimate goal is the [Class] 3A state title," Payton's Colgate-bound middle Mari Faines said. "Since I went Downstate as a sophomore, that's the goal. We have a veteran team and we want it bad."

Payton (23-5), which has won three Public League titles in a row got 10 kills from Michelle Schultz and six kills and two blocks from 6-2 Faines.

In the second game, 5-10 outside hitter Tyler Jones ignited a rally as Jones College Prep (24-8) pulled even at 14 and 15 before the Grizzlies pulled away.

"Young is our rival, but the big picture is to use this to prepare for Class 3A," Payton coach Joel Anderson said. "This is the best team we've ever assembled at Payton talent-wise."

"This was a good match and I'm proud of the team," Faines said. "With the long [Columbus Day] weekend, we didn't play very well Tuesday [in the quarterfinals]. We just wanted to get back in the gym and finish, and we did."

Young (24-5) got seven kills from Madisen Lenzini, 18 digs from Amanda Hedberg, 24 assists from Jenna Jacobson and five aces from Alex DiLoreta.

"I thought we came out with a lot of energy," Lenzini said. "I thought that we played the way we wanted to."

"I thought that we had a pretty good hitting display and kept control on our side," said Young coach Jaime Walters, who had a chance to play in the state finals when she attended Byron. "These kids are worried more about state, the regionals and sectionals and a chance to get Downstate."

Von Steuben fell to 15-13 with the loss.

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