Downers Grove North volleyball has a sectional championship trophy for the first time in eight years.

The third-seeded Trojans rallied from a set down to beat top-seeded Glenbard West 18-25, 25-15, 25-18 in the Class 4A Glenbard West Sectional final on Thursday, Nov. 5, Shaw Local reported. It was DGN's first sectional title since 2018.

Nicole Liu, the team captain, led the way with a match-high 14 kills. Six of those came in the second set, when the Trojans seized control after dropping the opener. Samantha Hancock delivered the kill on match point to finish it.

DGN (29-9) beat Glenbard West (32-7) for the third time this season. The win was the Trojans' sixth straight over their league rivals dating back to last year, according to Shaw Local. Three of Glenbard West's seven losses this season came against DGN.

Coach Mark Wasik called this as composed and confident a team as he has had at Downers Grove North. He told Shaw Local the Hilltoppers' size and blocking forced early adjustments.

"This team just stays steady. They're unwavering, and it's so impressive," Wasik said, according to Shaw Local.

Glenbard West, which had four players 6-foot or taller, used that height to stuff the Trojans at the net in the first set. DGN committed six errors in the opener.

But Liu scored kills on three of DGN's first six points in the second set and gave the Trojans the lead for good at 6-5. The Trojans closed the set on a 9-2 run, with back-to-back aces from Brynn Burkhardt.

The third set stayed tight through 30 points, with neither team leading by more than two. Then Ellery Cabaj broke it open.

A Cabaj kill and a Cabaj ace bookended a 4-0 run that pushed DGN's lead to 20-14. Hancock's match-point kill came soon after.

Cabaj finished with seven kills, 11 assists and nine digs. Sienna Shelton added seven kills, Madi Mastalarz had 16 assists and Angelika Krob recorded 17 digs.

The Trojans had lost in the sectional final each of the previous two years, according to Shaw Local. Cabaj told the paper the team was determined not to let it happen again against a team they had already beaten twice.

Liu, who does not plan to play volleyball in college, told Shaw Local the win meant everything. "We stayed strong, stayed composed and found a way at the end. We always do," she said.

DGN, which as we reported Nov. 4 beat Benet in the semifinal, has won 16 of its last 18 matches. The Trojans advance to face Mother McAuley in a supersectional Monday, Nov. 9, at Lyons.