Evanston Seniors Spark Regional Volleyball Win

Written by Dennis Mahoney.

The only two seniors on Evanston’s volleyball roster weren’t ready for their careers to end Tuesday night.

Caitlin Boer and Akilah Wilson combined for 9 kills as the No. 6 seed Wildkits ousted No. 9 Leyden by a 25-15, 25-14 margin at the Class 4A Evanston Regional tournament.

Boer hammered down 5 kills and Wilson added 4 for the winners, who will take a 16-18 overall record into Thursday’s 6 p.m. championship game at Beardsley Gym. The Kits will meet No. 2 seed Loyola Academy, which defeated Von Steuben 25-17, 25-7 in Tuesday’s other semifinal.

Forced to adjust her lineup again due to the illness all week of setter Keegan Joyce, ETHS head coach Pam MacPherson got immediate results in the first set. Boer served six straight points and Wilson contributed three early kills as the hosts broke out to a 7-1 lead and never looked back.

Boer’s two ace serves helped finish off the first set, and MacPherson used her bench extensively in the second set. Recently promoted sophomores Sheridan Cleave and Naydiia Gary contributed their first varsity points with a kill and a block for a point, respectively.

Clara Gruger added three aces for ETHS.