Salas’ efforts carry Evanston to win

Updated: October 27, 2011 7:49PM

Arianna Salas sees herself as something of a magician.

The Evanston setter enjoys the sleight of hand that comes with her position. And with so many offensive options, the junior had no shortages of tricks up her sleeve Thursday at Evanston’s own regional final.

Salas assisted on 33 points as the No. 2-seeded Wildkits earned their fourth regional title in a row with a 25-20, 25-21 win over Glenbrook North, the fifth seed.

Casey Durham finished with a team-best 16 kills, but three other players had at least four kills for Evanston (26-9). Mary Frigo followed Durham with six kills.

“I was setting the middle, and I was setting Casey,” said Salas, who transfered to Evanston from Von Steuben for this school year. “I like playing with the other team’s mind.”

Tight throughout much of the first set, the Wildkits pulled away on Durham’s kill to even the score at 19-all. Evanston won the next four points with three kills and an ace to go ahead 23-19.

Glenbrook North (19-7) interrupted the run on Kate Kamin’s kill, but Durham and Blaire Frett combined for kills for the win.

“We started off slowly, but we elevated our game,” Evanston coach Pam MacPherson said. “I was proud of how we finished that game strong.”

Seeking its first regional championship since 2007, Glenbrook North occupied an advantage in the second set, too, but the Spartans struggled to string points together. They won three in a row only once during the two sets.

Evanston took control of the set on Frett’s kill that gave the Wildkits an 18-16 edge. Frigo and Durham added kills for a 20-16 lead, and Glenbrook North never got closer than two the rest of the way.

Evanston plays in the semifinals of the Glenbrook South Sectional on Tuesday. The championship match is Thursday.

“This feels great. I’m stoked,” Salas said.

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