ELGIN — An epic comeback in the first set came up short and Laurel-Concord-Coleridge took charge from there on to sweep EPPJ 29-27, 25-15 and 25-14 in girls varsity volleyball Thursday night.
It’s been said you can’t win a game early on, but you can lose a game.
Wolfpack Coach Jordynn Luettel said that had the Wolfpack been able to win the first set, and they had opportunities, the outcome of the match could have been different.
“That first set was a back-breaker,” Luettel said. “If we win the set, it’s a completely different ball game.”
In the pivotal first set, LCC led 18 to 12 and seemed on their way.
That’s when the Wolfpack made their move. It started with a kill by senior Mady Kurpgeweit seeing her most extensive action since an injury which kept her out for several weeks.
LCC built their lead to 22 to 14. Senior Braelyn Martinsen then put together back-to-back kills and one could feel momentum start to swing.
At 23 to 17, she added another kill, then teamed with Tenley Schindler for a stuff block and now LCC’s lead was only 23 to 19 as they called a timeout.
Two errors by LCC wrapped around an ace serve from senior Elizabeth Moser made the score 24 to 22.
That was followed by back-to-back kills by Jael Lammers to knot the score at 24-all.
The teams then traded points. Twice EPPJ served for the set and were denied. LCC twice served for the set and, on the second chance, converted to win 29 to 27.
In Set #2, LCC was up 12 to seven when they put together a six to one run to lead 17 to 8, then traded points the rest of the way to win the set.
The third set was tied 10-all. Then, LCC closed out the match on a 15 to 5 run to end the match.
“We had the wrong errors at the wrong time,” Coach Luettel said.
Looking ahead, she said all the team’s goals remain in front of them. “I think we’re starting to peak at the right time. I’m happy with where we are at.”
Kurpgeweit led EPPJ with 10 kills, Martinsen had nine while Lammers and Lillian Moser each had eight.
Elizabeth Moser had 24 set assists, Sophia Burke added 11.
Gentry Zwingman led in serve receive with 15. Martinsen had 23 digs.
The loss dropped EPPJ’s record to 13-13 heading into the NVC Tournament.
….see more at this week’s Elgin Review.
