Shoulder Tape and State Volleyball: Gators Break Dry Spell

For senior setter Peyton Ziegler, the cost of victory was physical. Taping her left wrist and thumb while managing sore shoulders, Ziegler orchestrated a decisive win on Monday night. Her efforts guided the Crystal Lake South Gators to a 25-12, 20-25, 25-18 victory over Washington in the IHSA Class 3A La Salle-Peru Supersectional match. The result ends a 13-year drought, as South has not advanced to the state tournament since 2013.

The program’s return to the state stage traces back to a shift in offensive leadership. Ziegler, playing through discomfort, distributed the ball with precision to a diverse group of attackers. She finished with 30 assists and two aces. Her teammates, including Logan Georgy, who is committed to Cal Poly, and Bobbi Wire, who is headed to Indiana University-Indianapolis, converted those setups into kills from multiple court positions. This balanced approach overwhelmed Washington, whose 27-12 record did not reflect their struggles with serve receive errors.

Georgy emerged as the primary threat for the Gators. The 6-foot-2 senior recorded a team-best 14 kills and outdueled Washington’s Carly Dawson, an Iowa commit who also tallied 14 kills. The two players traded blows throughout the contest, but Georgy delivered the final point. She attacked from the outside spot, using a cut shot to beat the block after the ball grazed the net. Wire contributed nine kills, while Joanna Kruzolek added 10 to keep the offense moving.

Washington attempted a comeback in the second set. The Panthers, who had lost to South earlier in the season, broke off a 12-4 run after securing consecutive aces. The momentum shifted back to the Gators when Kruzolek served and Georgy attacked, sparking a 7-1 surge. South pulled away in the third set, opening with six straight points and building a seven-point lead. Makayla Westermann, a 6-foot sophomore, anchored the defense with seven blocks, including two late stops that sealed the margin.

Coach Jorie Fontana credited the team’s defensive discipline. The Gators focused on touching the ball at the net to slow down Washington’s powerful swings. They also targeted the Panthers’ serve receive to keep them off the offensive front row. Fontana noted that the first set was a perfect execution of this game plan. South recorded seven aces to Washington’s three, with Ziegler, Okiria, and Addison each contributing two.

The victory sets the stage for the next phase of the tournament. South, now 28-11, will face Mascoutah in the state semifinals. The match is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday at the CEFCU Arena in Normal. The winner will advance to the title match on Saturday against either Nazareth or Geneva. If South prevails, they will reach the finals for the first time since 1995.