New Trier powers past Niles North

Updated: October 27, 2011 8:35PM

New Trier’s playoff mentality of not taking any opponent lightly proved to work for the second time.

Junior outside hitter Brittani Steinberg and her eight kills powered the No. 1 Trevians (29-7, 10-0) to a 25-11, 25-17 regional final home victory over No. 8 Niles North (23-14, 8-2).

“It’s a big step for our team because we know that we’re ranked number one in this sectional, but we know that we have to prove that we’re number one,” said sophomore setter Taylor Tashima. “We know that every team is coming after us and we need to play the best volleyball we can every game.”

The CSL South champions trailed the Vikings 1-0 in the first game and would never be behind again.

Senior middle hitter Kathryn Polkoff helped out Steinberg on the New Trier attack with six kills of her own.

After gaining a 4-1 lead, the Trevians never allowed Niles North within three points for the rest of the game.

In the second game, New Trier rolled out to a 10-5 lead again, but it would not be as easy to close out the eight seed.

The Vikings brought the game back to a 15-15 tie with some kills by sophomore outside hitter Taylor Louis and junior outside hitter Andrea Lopez.

However, the Trevians finished off their conference counterparts with a 10-2 run despite not calling a timeout to cool off Niles North.

“I felt like if we played our game, then things should be alright,” said head coach Hannah Hsieh. “I don’t think that the girls were nervous; I thought they just knew what we needed to do to execute our plan.”

New Trier will face off with either No. 4 Loyola or No. 6 Niles West in the Glenbrook South Sectional semifinals this Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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