Lauralton Hall Sweeps Masuk

Despite giving its best and then some, the Masuk girls volleyball team had trouble staying with Lauralton Hall on Monday night. Masuk had a few highlights but in the end, Lauralton Hall showed why it's a contender and halted a two-match losing streak with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-19) victory over the Lady Panthers (2-11) to raise its record to 9-2.

The Crusaders broke a two-match losing streak and led almost the whole match, except for the start of Game 3 when Masuk took a 3-0 lead.

"All I asked is we go for every ball and see what happens," said Lady Panthers coach Stefanie Weise. "I thought things went well for the most part."

Lauralton Hall was especially successful when attacking Masuk from the weak side. Junior outside hitter Mariel Schlaefer (11 kills, one block, five service points, four aces, five digs) showed she's a major force on the court for the Crusaders and pounded home balls for kills to the open area.

Schlaefer also had a few tips for kills and she pounded home returns for kills as well.

Lady Panther junior Isabella DiBenedetto (three assists, four service points, two aces, two digs) had two service points, including an ace, to cut the lead to five, 21-16.

After Masuk senior tri-captain Erin Craw (four service points, eight digs) ties it 2-2 with a service ace, Lauralton Hall went on a 9-0 run to make it 11-2, starting with Schlaefer's kill to force a sideout.

Junior Fallon Foster (12 assists, 12 service points, three kills) broke it open for the Crusaders with eight straight service points, three aces.

The Lady Panthers had a few highlights after Foster's surge with senior tri-captain Brooke Butkovsky (four kills, three blocks) delivering a kill and forcing an error. Classmate Shannon Shea played well defensively and had a dig in this surge. Junior Alyssa Zembroski (two kills, two digs) kept the game alive for Masuk with a clutch kill.

Shea (eight service points, one ace, six digs, two kills) opened the third game with three service points for the 3-0 lead. She had a dig during her service run as well.

The Lady Panthers fought hard to stay on top and maintained their three-point lead at 6-3 on senior tri-captain lefty Tate Strack's service ace. Strack (five digs, one service point, one ace) made her presence felt on defense for Masuk with some nice plays in the back row.

Lauralton Hall took the lead for good at 9-7 with senior co-captain Suzanne Fitzpatrick (12 kills, eight service points, six digs) delivering two service points. Schlaefleer's kill secured one of those points.

Junior Alyssa Trembeczki (two kills) cut it to 9-8 with a kill and Butkovsky had back-to-back blocks to keep the Lady Panthers within three, 14-11. Butkovsky also had a basketball pass kill.

In the end, Masuk didn't get closer. Junior Virag Borsai (four assists, four digs) was effective in giving her teammates opportunities to hit it senior Demi Skenderis (five digs, two service points) was solid in the back row.

Even in defeat, Weise sees positives.

"In 10 years, they won't remember their record but the big plays they made and the special moments they experienced," Weise said. "Even when we lost, we had fun matches. They have been great, they come in every day ready to learn and they are enthusiastic."