Dramatic semifinal wins set up New Trier-Loyola sectional championship match

The playoff road got rockier Tuesday for both Loyola Academy and New Trier, the top two seeds in the IHSA Class 4A New Trier Sectional.

But both the Ramblers and Trevians survived upset bids in Winnetka, each match going the maximum three sets.

No. 1 Loyola took the court first and looked well on its way to victory with a 25-21 victory in its pocket and a 20-14 lead in the second set. But Glenbrook North had other ideas, using an eight-point burst to turn the game around, win 25-23 and force a third set.

In the decisive set, the Ramblers and Spartans went punch for punch for much of the contest. At 19-19, Loyola nabbed three straight points to get the advantage before claiming a 25-23 set and match victory.

“We just have to learn from it, stick to our game plan, stay positive,” Loyola coach Lionel Ebeling said. “We know we have a big target on our back. We’ve beaten (other teams in the sectional) once already, so they’re hungry. We have to stay hungry.

“I think GBN played really well. They didn’t want their season to end, and their hitters played well.”

The Ramblers leaned heavily on star outside hitter Grace Kreutz, who racked up a match-high 21 kills. Ellen Gundlach and Addie Leadbetter chipped in 7 kills and 4 blocks apiece, while Ava Swanson tallied 23 digs. Julia York (22 assists) and Brea Payne (11 assists) ran the Ramblers offense.

The victory was Loyola’s 32nd on the season, a new program record, Ebeling said.

In the nightcap, New Trier and Glenbrook South also engaged in a thrilling matchup. The Trevians picked it up in the third set, however, and earned a 25-22, 18-25, 25-18 sectional win.

The victory provided New Trier with a dose of revenge. Coming into the match the Trevians were 9-2 over their last 11 matches with both losses coming against the Titans — the second of which cost New Trier the Central Suburban League South crown.

Glenbrook South, on the other hand, came into Tuesday’s match red hot, winning 18 of their previous 19 matches.

The Trevians move on to play neighbor and rival Loyola Academy. In a match back in September, the Ramblers dispatched the Trevians in straight sets, 25-17, 25-21.

They will compete for the sectional title at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, at New Trier’s Winnetka campus.

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