Stagg gets past Andrew

Updated: October 25, 2011 8:15PM

Been there, done that works pretty well as far as being ready for an opponent — although truth be told, Stagg’s Jill Conrad didn’t need to have played against Andrew’s Maureen Carls to know what to expect in Tuesday’s Class 4A Andrew Regional volleyball semifinal.

“She’s a great player,” Conrad said of Carls. “We knew that we needed to stop her to stop them. And it worked out for us.”

The Chargers didn’t exactly stop the Loyola-bound Carls, who had seven kills. But the 5-foot-11 Conrad stood tall against her when it mattered the most, teaming up for two blocks late in Game 2 in the Chargers’ 25-13, 25-22 victory.

Conrad also had eight digs, five assists and four kills, Lexi Mantas six kills, Morgan Thomas 12 digs, Ali Conrad nine digs and four kills, Alexa Janus nine assists and Emily Frain 16 service points for the Chargers (19-17).

Liz Jendra totaled 12 digs and four kills, Carls seven digs and six blocks, Tara Adams 11 assists and Baylee Panfil four blocks for Andrew (17-15).

Stagg came in off a disappointing end to its conference season, a three-game loss to Lincoln-Way North. The Chargers were aggressive in capturing Game 1 against Andrew, but the same tentativeness that cost them a league title began to emerge in Game 2.

Andrew, in fact, led as late as 17-15 before Megan Hearne put a set from Conrad down for a point for Stagg. The pair of blocks by Conrad and Panfil were part of the subsequent 6-0 run that helped prevent the T-bolts from forcing a third game.

“It was rough (losing to North) because that was the main focus of our season, winning conference,” Conrad said. “We had to refocus and just work on coming back for this match and forgetting about that one.”

Stagg is to meet No. 1 Mother McAuley in Thursday’s regional final. The Mighty Macs (31-5), behind Lizzy Scanlon (4 kills, 3 digs), Sydney McPhillips (4 kills), Courtney Joyce (19 assists, 7 digs) and Jackie Aird (6 digs), rolled to a 25-7, 25-11 win over Oak Lawn.

Stagg, in no uncertain terms, will be the underdog.

“We just need to focus and have a good practice (Wednesday),” said Stagg’s Thomas, whose school record-setting season dig total increased to 492. “If we play our best game we can beat them.”

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