Downers South stops Oak Park again

The second meeting in the last 11 days between Downers Grove South and Oak Park-River Forest went pretty much like the first meeting.

Downers South had little trouble getting past the Huskies when the stakes were higher Tuesday night at the Class 4A Downers North Regional semifinal. The seventh-seeded Mustangs won 25-18, 25-15 to advance to the regional final at 6 p.m. Thursday against second-seeded Downers North (21-15).

Jessica Pikul had five of her match-high six kills in the second set to lead the Mustangs (17-19), who have split their two meetings against rival Downers North this season.

DGS scored the first five points in the second set and led 14-3 after a block by Alison Dec (four kills, two blocks) and an ace by libero Carrie Serritella. The ninth-seeded Huskies (15-21) had only four kills in the second set.

“The first game we started off rough, but once we got our passing, we got together and played better the first game,” Zemke said. “I think (playing before) helped a lot. The more we get our hits in, the more we can run our offense.”

Sophomore Amy Schembari led OPRF with four kills. Seniors Erin Martin and Haley Clark added three kills each.

The Mustangs won the first meeting 25-4, 25-16 Oct. 14 in pool play at the Maine West Pumpkin tournament. OPRF’s first set in that match came moments after the Huskies upset New Trier 26-24, 19-25, 25-22 in its earlier match.

With Zemke, Dec and Cassidy Herrmann (two blocks), DGS outblocked the Huskies 7-1 in the match.

“They’re pretty big. The first time we lost to them was after we beat New Trier,” Martin said. “We were coming off a long game and we were tired.”

Martin, Clark, Audrey Greffen and setter Katy Oldach played their final matches as seniors for the Huskies. The win over New Trier was one of the team’s highlights in the second half of the season. OPRF was coming off two wins against Bartlett and Fremd to end the Lake Park Invitational Oct. 22.

“It’s really hard for the seniors,” OPRF coach Don August said. “They are great people. You see them leave, but it’s sad. It happens every year.”

In the first set, OPRF actually led 14-11, but the Mustangs scored four consecutive points and did not relinquish the lead. The run included two kills by Dec, who had all four of her kills in the first set.

Schembari, who was a setter and outside hitter, gives the Huskies some promise after completing her sophomore season. She had only six assists while splitting duties with Ordach, but had three kills in the first set. Clark had OPRF’s only block in the opening set.

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