Stagg rides winning wave past Homewood-Flossmoor
From 2-9 to 8-9 in less than a week.
Stagg definitely has something going on these days, and Alexa Janus knows exactly what it is.
“Good teamwork,” the junior setter said after the Chargers socked it to host Homewood-Flossmoor, 25-16, 25-16 in a SouthWest Suburban Conference crossover Thursday.
Ali Conrad (8 kills, 6 service points), Janus (13 assists, 13 service points) Lexi Mantas (6 blocks) and Jill Conrad (6 kills, 10 digs, 7 assists, 6 service points) topped the leaderboard for Stagg.
H-F (9-7) was paced by Kaitlyn Shereyk (5 kills), Skylar Hildebrand (6 digs), Kassie Wallace (5 assists) and Nikki Herkert (5 assists).
Stagg’s six-victory run began Friday in its second match at the Maine East Invitational. The Chargers, behind consistent setting by Janus and strong hitting by Jill Conrad, ran off three more wins Saturday to go 4-1 for the tourney.
“We just starting working together,” Janus said. “The wins just kept on building our confidence. We’re still getting used to each other and we’re finally clicking.”
Stagg beat Joliet West in two games Tuesday behind a tremendous defensive effort by another of the Conrad twins, Ali.
Thursday, Ali Conrad was the top spiker for the Chargers as she continues her comeback from a torn Achilles tendon.
“The sets were good,” Conrad modestly said. “But the defense was doing well calling out where I should hit. That helped out, too.
“I’m finally getting into the offense more and getting more confidence. But it’s really our team playing together and getting confident.”
The Vikings rallied from 7-2 down to get to within 10-8 in Game 1, and led 4-1 in Game 2 after a serving run by Hildebrand that included an ace.
Stagg, though, scored points in clusters with the Conrad twins finding holes from the outside, and 5-foot-10 freshman Mantas dominating in the middle.
Stagg’s senior leadership? Zero. As in zero seniors on the roster.
“We don’t like to say that we’re young, use that as an excuse too much,” Ali Conrad said. “But we are a young team. Finally, everyone is getting confident, and we’re learning how to win.
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