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Sports

Girls Volleyball: Titans Look To Save Year in Postseason

Glenbrook South will try for a deep playoff run to make up for a tough regular season.

Over the past three years, Glenbrook South’s seniors haven’t had to endure much losing. Not in conference, not in the playoffs and not in the Titan Dome.

That’s what made Monday’s loss to New Trier on Senior Night so unusual. Glenbrook South fell 25-22, 25-14 to the Trevians, who clinched the Central Suburban League South title outright. It’s the first time Glenbrook South hasn’t won the conference since 2007.

The Titans have struggled this season, falling to 9-16 overall and a 3-6 conference record. The departure of Ellen Chapman, who now plays at Wisconsin, has left a big void in Glenbrook South’s offense. That was evident on Monday when Glenbrook South’s team leader in kills was Lisa Mahon and Olivia Nelson with three apiece.

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“New Trier got more aggressive at the net and we weren’t able to serve-receive with confidence and set up our offense,” Glenbrook South coach Katie Hoover. “They got us with aggressive blocking and aggressive play at the net.”

Glenbrook South celebrated the last home game in the careers of eight seniors. Abby Watkins, Carson Weaver, Kelsey Eenigenburg, Taylor Brown, Rebecca Tiedmann, Natalie Literski, Lisa Mahon and Olivia Nelson were all honored in a small ceremony before the match.

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“It’s a very special senior group,” Hoover said. “I’ve been coaching them since they were freshmen in the program. They’re leaders, they work hard, they have a lot of passion for the game and they believe in themselves.”

While they will not play another regular-season home game, the seniors do have a chance to make one final appearance at the Titan Dome with a run in the playoffs. Despite their losing record, the Titans received the No. 3 seed in the Glenview Sectional and if they can win their first two playoff games and garner a regional championship, the Titans will reap the benefits of home-field advantage in the sectional.

But the task won’t be easy. After a matchup with Lane on Oct. 25, Glenbrook South will likely face No. 7 Maine South. The Titans split a pair of matches against the Hawks this season, with the home team winning each contest. Maine South defeated Glenbrook South 25-22, 19-25, 25-19 in their most recent meeting on Oct. 5.

And although Hoover considers the Titans to be more of a defensive-oriented team, it will have to be their offense that will likely be the difference-maker in the postseason.

“We need to continue to be solid behind the service line and we need to be more confident passing,” Hoover said. “I think that’s definitely what we need going into the playoffs.”

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