C-G punches state ticket

Cary-Grove’s Sam Mainzer bumps the ball during the Trojans’ IHSA Class 4A supersectional win against host St. Charles East. (Wendy Kemp – For the Northwest Herald)

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ST. CHARLES – Paint the town navy and white.

Cary-Grove’s girls volleyball team set its eyes on earning the program’s first trip to the IHSA state semifinals this season, equipped with two Division I-
bound setters, lethal outside and middle hitters and scrappy defenders who could dig every ball.

The Trojans got their wish. Inside a raucous gym on St. Charles East’s home floor Saturday, the Trojans ended the defending Class 4A state champion’s season with a 25-20,
25-13 victory in the Class 4A St. Charles East Supersectional, punching C-G’s ticket to Redbird Arena in Normal on Friday.

The Trojans dominated every facet of the match, refusing to allow St. Charles East to gain momentum while the Trojans’ aggressive serving and hitting racked up points.

“We came out with every ounce of energy we had,” junior outside hitter Kelly Lamberti said. “ ... This means everything to us. We’ve worked hard in every practice, every game, to be able to do this.”

“For years, I’ve dreamed about taking a team down so that they could experience it,” C-G coach Patty Langanis said. “I am so proud to take this group of girls. They deserve this. They have worked so hard for it, and I couldn’t be more proud.”

C-G (36-4) rolled to a 7-1 advantage in Game 1, thanks to five service points from Lamberti. The Trojans put the Saints (32-7) in a hole again, 20-13, thanks to four service points from Kayla Klinger, including an ace, a Lamberti kill and a set to the outside corner from setter Abbey Heredia (21 assists).

The Saints rallied from a seven-point deficit, 24-17, and made it 24-20 off two C-G errors and a kill by St. Charles East’s Meghan Niski.

But Lamberti (12 kills) smacked down a kill to end the set.

St. Charles East came back to take an early lead, 4-0, in Game 2 and led briefly again, 7-6, before the Trojans all but put the game away.

Junior setter Colleen Smith served 10 consecutive points, St. Charles East burned both of its timeouts, and by the time the Saints had earned sideout, they trailed, 17-8.

The Trojans will face Glenbrook South at 6:30 p.m. Friday in a Class 4A state semifinal.