Crystal Lake South can’t keep up, falls to Mascoutah in Class 3A state semifinals

Unlike in its previous two matches, both three-set wins to get to the Class 3A state volleyball tournament, Crystal Lake South could never find a way to fully match the offensive firepower of its opponent Friday.“They have a lot of weapons and you’re working on solving one problem and then trying to fix another at the same time while trying to maintain what makes us South Gators and the play that we bring to the table,” South coach Jorie Fontana said.

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“It’s just a lot to take in when you kind of been on this whirlwind of a run at this point.”Second-seeded South never got in a rhythm against top-seeded Mascoutah, falling 25-14, 25-16 in the semifinals at Illinois State’s CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Gators (27-12), making their seventh trip to state and first since 2013, will face No. 3 Geneva (30-11) for third place at 4 p.

m. Saturday. Mascoutah (37-4) will play Nazareth (28-13) in a battle of No. 1 seeds for the state championship at 5:30 p.m.The Indians were led by freshman outside hit