No shame for CLC

Crystal Lake Central's Kelli Lawless (14), Alyssa Teator (32), Caroline Sdregas (13), and Corrie Gustin (42) react to a point scored during the second game against Joliet Catholic on Friday during the IHSA Class 3A semifinals at Redbird Arena in Normal. Joliet Catholic defeated the Tigers, 25-20, 25-17. (Lauren M. Anderson - landerson@nwherald.com)

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NORMAL – If moral victories counted toward overall records, Crystal Lake Central would be advancing to the state championship match today.

But the Tigers, despite an inspired performance against Joliet Catholic in an IHSA Class 3A state semifinal Friday, lost to the Angels, 25-20, 25-17, at Redbird Arena and will play Sycamore at 4:30 p.m. today in the third-place match. Joliet Catholic will face Breese Mater Dei for the title at 5:30 p.m.

The Tigers knew their challenges against the Angels were numerous – Joliet Catholic is the reigning 3A state champion and has not lost to an Illinois team in 45 matches dating to last season – but Central knew its pride and heart had driven a talented group of players to a state tournament field when few expected to see the Tigers there.

So, Central played Joliet Catholic like it was a state title match and left knowing that today’s match against Sycamore – a team the Tigers beat earlier this season – also is winnable.

“I’m really proud of these girls,” Central coach Doug Blundy said. “The team we played today is excellent. ... We knew what we had to do to stop them, and we knew what we had to do to beat them. We just couldn’t do it today.

“ ... We weren’t intimidated at all. That was never a concern of mine coming into this match. It didn’t matter who we were playing; this team expects to win against everyone.”

Making it to state had been an early-season goal, senior libero Julie Jeziorowski said. If the Tigers had been able to play for a state title, it would have been “the cherry on top.”

“I think [2007 setter] Kelly Farrell said it best when she said that [winning it all] is just the cherry on top,” Jeziorowski said. “We are happy to be here, and we are disappointed that we lost because you always want to end up on top, but we are excited to be playing for third place, and it’s just amazing to know that we accomplished our goals.”

The Tigers (37-4) might have changed the tenor of the match had they been able to complete more serves in the first set.

Central missed four serves and made four hitting errors – eight points that Central gave to a team that doesn’t need any help.

“Our serves and our serve-receive let us down a little today,” Blundy said.

In all other facets of the game, Central either matched the Angels (40-1) or came up with an edge.

Sophomore middle hitter Amelia Anderson got crafty enough to hit around the Angels’ blocks, coming up with a match-high 11 kills, and Jeziorowski (six digs) and Katey Koll (four digs) paced the defense.

Central took an early lead, 7-3, in the second set behind three Anderson kills, two Joliet Catholic hitting errors and kills from Tara Weber and setter Tracy Friel (14 assists), but the Angels chipped away at the advantage.

Lainey Wyman’s ace gave the Angels the lead, 11-10, and Joliet Catholic did not trail again.

“I felt we played solid, but not as well as we can,” Joliet Catholic coach Christine Scheibe said. “We had our moments of brilliance, and then we had other times when we weren’t as sharp.”

“We’re just excited to try to repeat,” Annemarie Hickey said, “and I think we can.”