Haley Burgdorf, St. Charles North defeat Geneva

Its power is not limited to just one sport.

St. Charles North’s Haley Burgdorf received Geneva’s phone number Tuesday night. This is the number 23 on Burgdorf’s jersey. Does a second-year outside hitter want to be like Mike?

you bet. Or maybe the late, great Kobe Bryant.

Asked if there was a story behind her wearing the same number as former NBA stars from the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles, Burgdorf said: “I’ve always looked up to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant and the way they played. level of effort.” Lakers.

“And, when I’m playing, I stick my tongue out sometimes like Michael does and focus, like I’m supposed to.”

The 6-foot Burgdorf, competing for the Duquesne Conference title, had 14 kills, three blocks, an ace and even an assist to help the North Stars win 25-21, 25-22.

The first game was tied at 8, and the final game was tied at 21-21 before St. Charles North ended with a four-point run, with Burgdorf holding off sophomore Mia McCall in both sets. Hit two powerful smashes.

Charlotte Potvin, a 6-2 senior middle blocker who leads Geneva with four kills, a block and an ace, had good things to say about Burgdorf’s performance .

“I think she’s very good physically,” Potvin said. “She has a lot of strength in her core and shoulders, which helps. She also has a really good volleyball IQ.

“She knows where the obstacles are and knows when to make a shot before she even tries it.”

The win clinched the sectional title for St. Charles North (22-13, 6-1), which also got 10 from senior outside hitter Alex Bardouniotis kills, McCall’s 17 assists and senior setter Kyra’s 11 assists and four kills for Traynor.

Geneva St. Charles North (23-12, 5-2) and Wheaton-Warrenville South entered Tuesday’s game in a three-way tie for the lead. The Tigers (21-13, 6-1) defeated St. Charles East.

“We started slow, ran low on energy and had eight service errors,” Geneva coach Lauren Kosecki said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game.

“We haven’t played this many games in this environment, so it’s going to be a good experience going into the playoffs.”

The North Stars struggled more at the service line, committing 14 turnovers in the game, but they were still able to get into a good rhythm offensively.

Game 2 was also tied at eight, with St. Charles North taking a late lead on a Treanor plate kill by Bardouniotis .

“Alex started a little slow in the first set, but I was like, ‘You have to go,'” St. Charles North coach Lindsay Hawkins said. “She really turned it on.”

It’s especially gratifying for the North Stars, who have lost three of their senior starters to injuries for several weeks. St. Charles North has regrouped under Burgdorf and now has 316 kills on the season.

Among the injured were Maryland recruits star outside hitter Katherine Scherer, libero Jackie Rude and righty hitter Adrianna Huptich.

“She’s special,” Hawkins said of Burgdorf. “We knew this all along based on her performance as a freshman last year. She has been learning from those seniors and has quickly settled into the role of ‘court coach’.

“That used to be Jackie Ruder’s role, but she was always talking to Hayley about what to say, what was open and how to motivate the girls. “She got a lot of great coaching. “

Baduniotis said she and Burgdorf both tried to come forward.

“Haley played a big role in the voices, obviously, in the killings and the executions,” Baduniotis said. “Her vertical ability is really good. “She can jump up and see where to hit. “

Usually, it’s right there on the number.