Conrad lifts Stagg past Queen of Peace

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:22PM

Stagg sophomore Jill Conrad certainly misses the four three-year starters who graduated from last year's successful team.

But the experience she gained playing with them as a freshman on the varsity already is paying big dividends for the Chargers in 2010.

Conrad did a lot of just about everything in Stagg's 25-17, 15-25, 25-22 victory Tuesday over visiting Queen of Peace.

The sophomore setter had 14 assists, 11 digs, 10 service points and eight kills. Donata Taskunaite (12 kills), Megan Hearne (13 service points, 10 digs, six kills) and Morgan Thomas (13 digs) also led the way for the Chargers (3-3).

Katie Rotkovich had eight kills and two blocks and Jessi Mainczyk five kills for Queen of Peace (2-1).

The seesaw match - fraught with the typical early-season service errors and net violations - saw Stagg finally put it away via three late kills by Taskunaite, a right side/middle.

Like they were at the Benet Invitational over the weekend, the Chargers are going through some growing pains.

"We have a lot of young players who are coming up, but also some seniors who are experienced, to fill those shoes. It's just a matter of putting it into the game and achieving it," Conrad said.

"We're learning how to bounce back from our mistakes and come back even stronger - pass and hit or whatever we need to get the next point."

That was illustrated after the Chargers made several unforced errors over the final half of Game 2. After the break they returned to the court and raced to a quick 4-1 lead behind kills by Taskunaite and Hearne and some effective serving at the start by Conrad.

Queen of Peace would stay close throughout the game but never did pull even.

"We've had some problems in the second games, but we're emphasizing to finish what you started," Conrad said. "It worked out well in the third game tonight."

Despite her own youth, Conrad is being looked to as a team leader. She is a captain, along with senior Tessa Kamberos.

"The girls vote on captains every year," Stagg coach Shannan Sisk said. "We talk about having someone who is a good role model and a good teammate, and who emulates everything that is ‘Charger-fied.'

"So she was picked as one of our captains, which I think was very well-deserved. I think both she and Tessa are good role models for the girls who are out here."

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.