Lyons loses to York again

Updated: September 19, 2011 7:25PM

Alyssa Keeve is quick to eliminate any comparisons to last year’s state championship team.

“We had one loss last year. We have four losses this year,” said Keeve, Lyons’ 6-foot junior outside hitter.

Two of Lyons’ loses have come against West Suburban Silver favorite York, which finished fourth in the state last season.

The Dukes defeated Lyons 25-13, 28-26 Saturday in the final at the Mother McAuley Preview in Chicago.

The loss came four days after York (15-2) beat Lyons 25-18, 25-19 in a conference match in La Grange. Lyons met York to open the season Sept. 2 at its quadrangular, which was won by Lyons 25-19, 25-12.

“It’s an on-going rivalry,” Keeve said about York. “I don’t know what happened in the second game [at McAuley]. We found our momentum. We came back, but we didn’t make it back with enough time. It was rough [losing 28-26].”

There is another chance the teams could meet again to end the regular season at Lyons’ Invitational Oct. 22.

Keeve didn’t get to play last season, but is making progress since opening the season with three kills in the season opener for her starting debut. She was pulled up from the sophomore team last season for the playoffs and didn’t play in the state championship match against Cary-Grove.

Keeve watched her older sister, Kelsey, help lead Lyons to its third state girls volleyball title in school history last fall. Kelsey ranked No. 3 on Lyons in kills with over 130. She enters this week with 42 kills in 25 sets to rank tied for fourth (1.68) in kills for Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau. Kelsey Keeve, a freshman 6-1 middle, is the only Chicago area recruit currently playing for the Redhawks (3-10).

“[Kelsey] misses LT so much,” Alyssa said. “We text before every game and she wishes me good luck when we play. She hopes I’ll do well and beat the team we play.”

The two sisters from La Grange didn’t get to play on the court too many times together last season, settling for practices together as Lyons entered the postseason.

“When my sister was on the team last year, it’s different [this year],” Alyssa said. “I do not see her every day or talk to her every day about everything.”

In addition to Kesley Keeve, Lyons lost a few other key players from last year’s team, including kills leader Jocelynn Birks, setter Erin Juley, middle Julia Watkins and outside hitter Stephanie Lewaniak.

“You can’t compare us [this year],” Alyssa Keeve said. “Last year we were so good.”

Lyons plays at Glenbard West Tuesday, which won its own tournament Saturday.

Lyons returns to the Rich East Invitational Friday and Saturday. Marist beat Lyons 25-21, 25-21 in last year’s tournament final. The two teams could meet again in a field that also includes perennial power St. Francis.

Already, Lyons has exceeded Alyssa Keeve’s expectations entering the season.

“I was not sure myself [what to expect],’ Keeve said. “I thought we could be really, really bad. I have been really surprised. It’s a good feeling. Last year we were a really close team. We knew everything about everybody.”

Keeve attributed the continued success to the addition of three freshmen, who have become regular contributors. They are middle Cori Hansen, outside hitter Hannah Juley and defensive specialist Toni Saracco.

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