New Trier takes down top-seeded Glenbrook North, readies for another sectional title match

New Trier volleyball is making a run.

The Trevians are taking their four seed to the IHSA Class 4A Glenbrook South Sectional championship after sweeping the bracket’s top seed, Glenbrook North, 25-23, 25-21, on Tuesday night in Glenview.

“I think we were prepared because we played such tough competition during the season, and I think the girls were ready for a big moment,” New Trier coach Hannah Hsieh said.

The Spartans entered the postseason as one of the state’s best, conquering the rugged Central Suburban South and carrying a 28-2 record. They also topped New Trier twice.

Both times, though, the Trevians took the Spartans to three sets. New Trier knew it was not far away.

“We came in with the mentality that it’s hard to win (against one team) three times,” New Trier libero Delaney Maher said. “We played (Glenbrook South) before (the postseason) and in our third game (after two losses) we beat them as well, so we said, ‘Hey we lost to them twice before beating them, we can do the same tonight.'”

It wasn’t headed that way early. Glenbrook North controlled the start of the first set, grabbing an 11-7 lead.

But after a timeout, New Trier quickly tied things up at 11-11, and the game went back and forth from there.

Her team down 21-20, senior Calia Cremascoli recorded a kill, block and ace as the Trevians went on a 5-2 run to claim Set 1.

In the second set, the Trevians’ service was a difference maker. It kept the Spartans offense out of sync as the Trevians slowly pulled away.

With Maher behind the service line, New Trier turned a 9-9 draw into a 14-9 advantage. The Trevs never lost control from there.

“Our mentality was to control what we can control, and serving is one of those things we can control,” Maher said. “So we worked so hard on serving and we went into this game and said we’re going to serve as hard as we can and accurately as we can so we can get them out of system.”

Maher added that the potent Spartans offense can strike from anywhere, so effective serves that challenge their passers is “the best way to” limit their options.

Glenbrook North closed to within two once, at 15-13, but never got closer as the Trevians put them away.

Kate Andersons led New Trier’s offense with 9 kills on the night while Serena Bauer added 7. Cremascoli finished with 5 kills to go with 2 blocks and an ace. Junior setter Sophia Farina scored match point with a slick set into open floor space.

New Trier (23-8) advances to face No. 3 DePaul Prep (33-5) — which downed No. 2 Glenbrook South 22-25, 26-24, 25-16 in the other sectional semifinal — at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, at Glenbrook South.

The Trevs topped the Rams 25-21, 25-20 on Oct. 17 during the Maine West Pumping Tournament.

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