Volleyball: Nazareth advances to state semifinals with late rally
Senior captain Lexi Van Eekeren scored the final points to secure a 3-1 win over Lemont, sending the Roadrunners back to Normal for a Friday matchup against Geneva.
By Rebecca Svoboda ·
Nazareth volleyball players secured their spot in the state tournament on Monday evening. The Roadrunners defeated Lemont in the Class 3A Hinsdale South Supersectional. The final score was 25-22, 12-25, 25-16. This victory sends Nazareth to Normal for the state semifinals. They will play at 4 p.m. on Friday.
The match came down to the final minutes of the third set. Both teams traded points to reach 10 ties. The score stood at 15-15 after a block by Lemont senior Maddie Maloney. Nazareth regained serve immediately. Sadie Quinlan recorded a kill to shift momentum. Then, Lexi Van Eekeren took control of the game.
Van Eekeren, a senior, executed a series of high-impact plays. She smashed a spike over the net. She blocked a shot from the right pin position. She landed her fourth kill of the set. These actions gave Nazareth a 19-15 lead. The team closed the match with two aces from Van Eekeren.
Van Eekeren remained focused during the intense final points. She stated that her mind stays on the current point rather than the scoreboard. She described the mental approach as point by point. She finally smiled as she served the final points of the match.
Nazareth coach Esai Velez noted that Van Eekeren serves as the team captain. He explained that she does not lead in any single statistical category. Instead, she contributes across all areas of play. Velez said Van Eekeren knew she had to perform at a high level to reach state. He noted that she fulfilled that requirement.
Lemont fought back after dropping the first set. The Eagles jumped to a 6-1 lead in the second set. Marta Pranskunas led that rally. The six-foot senior middle recorded nine kills in that set. She also contributed key blocks and tips. Lemont coach Peggy Clemens said the game plan focused on utilizing their middle hitters. Clemens described Pranskunas as unstoppable during that portion of the match.
Nazareth adjusted in the third set. They did not allow the second set deficit to affect their play. Van Eekeren tied the score at 14-14 with a two-handed kill down the line. The team then built a lead they did not relinquish. Talia Surendran finished with nine kills. Madeline Briscoe provided 13 assists. Tess Tortorello recorded seven digs for the Roadrunners.
This win marks the fifth time since 2019 that Nazareth has advanced to the state tournament. The program aims to win its second state title. Van Eekeren acknowledged that the team faces higher expectations this year compared to last season. She said the goal is to win the championship this year.
