L-Way North Soars Past L-Way West in Key Volleyball Showdown

Lincoln-Way North and Lincoln-Way West each came into Tuesday night's Southwest Suburban Red girls volleyball match with a 4-1 conference record, so something had to give.

As it turned out, North gave West more than it could handle, as the Phoenix swept to a crucial 25-18, 25-22 victory.

Lincoln-Way North (21-12-1 overall, 5-1 in conference) can clinch at least a tie for the conference title with a win Thursday over Thornton.

"It's really a major ordeal for us to win a conference," North coach Mary Brown said. "It's the first time that North has ever won a conference championship, so these girls are really excited."

Lincoln-Way West fell to 21-6, 4-2.

Junior outside hitter Stephanie Pearson had six kills and six aces on the night to lead North, and junior outside hitter Hayley Wacker had five kills. Senior setter Erynn Schuh led the team in assists with nine. 

"I thought we played really well," Pearson said. "We were really pumped up … and the energy was really positive. We kept it going from the first game to the second game and it really helped because all of our players stayed out there and worked as a team."

North dominated the first game, but had its hands full in the second. North trailed by four points halfway through the second game before rallying back. It was a dogfight down the stretch, with the Phoenix eventually prevailing.

"We pushed through during the (second) game," Wacker said. "We all trusted each other and relied on each other. I believe it was all just like in one kind of wave — perfect pass, perfect set and a perfect hit. We just kept up our energy." 

"Both teams knew it was for a conference championship," Brown said. "West gave us all we could handle in the second game. They weren't letting anything drop; they were really a scrappy team. They should hold their heads high because they did a nice job."