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STERLING – The Sycamore volleyball team played tough against the defending Class 3A state champions Thursday night, but Sterling rallied for an 18-25, 25-22, 25-8 victory at Musgrove Fieldhouse.
After taking the first set, Sycamore led 6-3 in the second before Sterling (6-2) caught fire. The Spartans (0-4) came back to tie the score at 14, 15 and 16, then used another rally to get within 22-21, but the Golden Warriors got a pair of blocks by Macie Gebhardt and a kill from freshman Paige Miller to close out that set
In the third set, Sycamore trailed 6-5 before Sterling went on a 19-3 run to end the match, with six Spartan errors in that string.
Isabella Jackson led Sycamore with seven kills, and Kylie Feuerbach finished with six kills, eight points and three aces. Caylee Sharkey added five kills, and Mallory Larson chipped in 12 assists, four kills and eight points.
“They made a lineup change [in the second set] to let their setter [Bree Borum] actually hit, and we just could not shut her down,” Sycamore coach Jennifer Charles said. “She’s a very smart player, and our block was not doing a really good job of slowing some balls down that we were doing the first set. Then serve receive kind of lulled, and those were killer for us tonight.”
Borum finished with 15 kills, 14 assists, nine points and four aces, and freshman Grace Egan added 10 kills, two blocks and 16 digs for Sterling.
Hiawatha falls at home: Thee Hawks were defeated 25-8, 25-11 to Newark.
Cogs lose to Marengo: Genoa-Kingston a road contest at Marengo 25-14, 25-18.
Timberwolves sustain loss: Marquette defeated Indian Creek 25-10, 25-17.
Royals tripped up in three sets: Hinckley-Big Rock lost in three sets to LaMoille, dropping the first set 25-9, before winning the second 25-19 and then falling 25-19 to end the evening.
Jenna VerCautren contributed to 10 attacking points for the Royals and had two aces.
BOYS SOCCER
Sycamore stomps LaSalle-Peru: The Spartans were 10-0 winners.
Jules Breidenbach compiled a hat trick for the Spartans. Scoring a goal apiece for the Spartans were Miles Guiborat, Alec Garcia, Isaac Plagakis, Robbie Sapita, Mason McGhee, Koby Fowler and Jared Gliesman.
Cogs best Marengo: Junior Leon scored two goals in the first half, helping to lead Genoa-Kingston to a 4-2 win at Marengo.
Jack Bouque assisted on the first Leon goal, and later assisted on another goal. Aiden Tomlinson and Eagan Reams each scored for the Cogs as well.
Knights top Ottawa: Kaneland won at home, 2-0.
Lucas Bass scored in the first half with Tucker Jahns adding a second half goal.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Sycamore wins at Walcamp: The Spartans won the Genoa-Kingston meet with 31 points, ahead of Richmond-Burton's 37.
Lily Baker led four Spartans in the top 10 with a 19:44, good for fourth. Kristin Plauck was fifth (20:17), Ali Flatter was eighth (20:42) and Emma Doyle was 10th (21:12).
Indian Creek's Jolee Larson took first individually with a time of 19:25. Other times for the Timberwolves girls were Jill Shotsberger in 14th with a time of 21:58 and Caroline Bend, who was 17th in 22:11.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Spartans second at Walcamp: Sycamore finished 11 team points back of North Boone, finishing second in a meet hosted by Genoa-Kingston.
Sycamore's top runner on the day was freshman Caden Emmert, who took sixth overall with a time of 18:01. Isaac Ward took ninth (18:24) and Ethan Slofis burg was 10th (18:49).
The Genoa-Kingston boys took third as a team with 68 points, 20 back of Sycamore. Ryan Wade placed third overall for the Cogs and Will Gates was fifth.
GIRLS GOLF
Dixon downs Cogs: Amber Fellows led Genoa-Kingston with a score of 55 strokes as the Cogs fell to Dixon 187-262.
BOYS GOLF
Cogs defeat Dixon: Trevor Pierce carded a 44 to take medalist honors as Genoa-Kingston defeated the Dukes.
GIRLS TENNIS
Barbs swept in DVC opener: Neuqua Valley dominated DeKalb in the first Dupage Valley Conference match for the Barbs, losing just three games in a 7-0 win.
Izi Meyers Miller and Ashley Nelson, Kayla Webb and Jayda Minniefield, and Ilanie Castorena and Camryn Mason also had 6-0, 6-1 losses for the Barbs (2-3, 0-1)
GIRLS SWIMMING
Barbs best two squads: DeKalb defeated IMSA and Dundee-Crown in a tri-meet at IMSA.
LATE WEDNESDAY
BOYS SOCCER
Royals bust Huskers: Hinckley-Big Rock handed Serena a 2-1 defeat.
The Royals' Remy Lynch and Kyle Mueller each netted a goal.
Sauk Valley Media sports editor Ty Reynolds contributed to this report.