Harvard gives Chicago Christian scare

Harvard's Marcy Nystrom (left) dives for the ball during the third game against Chicago Christian on Friday during the IHSA Class 2A semifinals at Illinois State University's Redbird Arena in Normal. Chicago Christian defeated the Hornets, 25-27, 25-13, 25-16. (Lauren M. Anderson - landerson@nwherald.com)

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NORMAL – Chicago Christian’s girls volleyball players couldn’t believe they were losing the first set to Harvard in their IHSA Class 2A state semifinal Friday at Redbird Arena.

The Hornets’ inspired play gave them a close first-set victory, but the Knights’ scrappy defense and tough play at the net ensured Harvard would not win another set or play for a state title.

The Knights beat the Hornets, 25-27, 25-13, 25-16, to earn a matchup against defending 2A champion Freeburg at 12:45 p.m. today. The Hornets will play for the program’s second third-place finish at 11:45 a.m. today against Carlinville.

Harvard coach Kelly Brierley reminded her players that taking third place would be a nice way to finish.

“It’s nice now to come down and there are just four teams and you’re playing for a trophy no matter what,” Brierley said. “Third place is still great. You still get to bring a big trophy home and celebrate. It’s still a big accomplishment.”

The Hornets (27-13) believed all season that a state championship was possible; the Hornets finished third in Class A in 2006.

But Chicago Christian (28-10) was hunting for the same accolade after finishing fourth in 2007. Anything less than the chance to play for a state title this year was not acceptable, setter Madison Kamp (28 assists) said.

“We’re on top of the world right now,” she said. “We knew that we shouldn’t be losing to this team [in Game 1]. We knew what we had and what they had, and we knew that we had to switch it around [in Game 2].”

“That’s why we came out more relaxed in the second and third games,” middle hitter Carron Van Groningen added.

Harvard rallied to win the first set, taking its first lead, 16-15. Chicago Christian later put together a four-point run to go up, 21-18, but Ashleigh Fisher (21 kills) and Finke (10 kills) each came up with kills, and Fisher served an ace to tie the set at 21.

Kills by Brittany Finke and Fisher and a setter dump from Katarina Rotta (29 assists) gave Harvard a 24-22 lead, but Chicago Christian tied it again at 24.

Fisher’s kill gave the Hornets a one-point lead, 25-24, Knights outside hitter Stacey Kamp’s kill tied it again at 25, and then Harvard sealed the win on a hitting error and Finke’s ace.

The Knights put up a block on Fisher and Finke to all but shut down the Hornets’ outside options in the second and third sets.

“In the first game I had a lot of the same shots, but in the second game those weren’t there,” Fisher said. “We had trouble with their blocks.”