Lexi Van Eekeren, Nazareth pull away from Lemont in third set, return to state

Lexi Van Eekeren on two occasions in the teeth of Monday’s match rose up for a huge block, and smashed a kill – and yet the Nazareth senior showed no emotion as her teammates went crazy around her.Why the stone face?“When I play I’m just really focused on the game,” Van Eekeren said. “It’s one point, then it’s the next point after that. In a really intense match it’s point for point.”Van Eekeren finally let a knowing smile slip out as she stepped to the service line for the match’s final points.She gave Nazareth plenty to smile about.Van Eekeren made big play after big play down the stretch. Nazareth scored 10 of the match’s last 11 points to beat Lemont 25-22, 12-25, 25-16 in the Class 3A Hinsdale South Supersectional.Nazareth (27-13), second in the state last year, is returning to Normal and will face Geneva in a state semifinal at 4 p.m. Friday.“It’s unfinished business,” Nazareth coach Esai Velez said. “Last year we liked the state part. This year we have a group that wants to cont