Riverside Brookfield High School senior Kelley Tyler has added action this girls volleyball season.
A defensive specialist in 2022, Tyler now is the starting libero.
“I really like it. It’s fun being able to be all over the court,” Tyler said.
“I feel like being a libero, you have to take a lot more responsibility for balls and kind of just be all over the court all of the time and always be on your toes, which is something you still have to do as a (defensive specialist), but it’s just another level.”
Strong back-row play was a key factor Thursday as the Bulldogs outlasted Elmwood Park 25-22, 19-25, 25-15 to move to 4-0 in the Metro Suburban Conference. The Bulldogs (14-9) lost their first set in MSC play yet won their fourth straight match.
Tyler had 71 service receptions and Aimee DiBattista (19), Mackenzie Sloger (15) and Emily Organ (12) also reached double digits as the Bulldogs had a .960 reception percentage. In digs, Claire Cameron (16), Sloger (12) and DiBattista (10) had double digits while Tyler added eight.
Natalie Klotz had three block assists to double her season blocking total.
Owens (10 kills in 20 attacks), Sloger (9 kills), Elaina Harazin (5 kills) and Addie Blomgren (4 kills) led the offense, which had 38 kills with 24 attack errors. Cameron and Annabel Krueger had 17 and six assists, respectively.
“My favorite part [as libero] is cheering on my teammates and seeing them get a good hit after getting a good up,” Tyler said.
RBHS boys soccer
The Bulldogs avenged their previous loss to Elmwood Park 1-0 Thursday but also lost at Westmont 4-3 Sept. 26 to fall one game behind Ridgewood in the MSC race.
Tomas Kunickas scored the goal for RBHS (6-8-1, 2-2 in MSC) against Elmwood Park (8-6, 2-2), which won the initial conference meeting 1-0 Sept. 7. Diego Villegas assisted.
Will Sessler scored twice against Westmont (6-8-1, 1-3). Gabe Wiginton also scored and Max Swicionis, Villegas and Kunickas had assists.
On Saturday, the Bulldogs blanked Nazareth 5-0. Xavier Salamanca had two goals and Kunickas and Villegas scored and Ethan Sandusky converted a penalty kick. Kunickas, Cole Rubio, Josef Guerrero and Villegas recorded assists.
RBHS girls cross country
The Bulldogs’ Gianna Gelb (21:41.70 for 5,000 meters) and Maria Dalton (28th, 21:56.90) were top-30 finishers at Lisle’s Mane Event Saturday.
RBHS was third (161 points). Other finishers were Lily Kocourek (35th, 22:23.50), Maia Nelson (49th, 22:58.30), Rebecca Dosek (58th, 23:12.70) and Jorie Eggers (70th, 23:38.50).
