CONNEAUT LAKE — Conneaut Lake was one of several teams hit hard by graduation coming into the 2008 season.

The Lakers not only lost all-state hitter and Meadville Tribune Player of the Year Chantal Haase, but four-year starting setter Ashley Jarrell, outside hitters April Cree and Michelle Helbig and defensive specialist Hannah Levine.

So in order for the Lakers to have another successful season, someone was going to have to step up. And that player according to head coach Mary Talbot was going to have to be returning all-state outside hitter Mary Sperry.

“We’re kind of expecting a lot out of her,” Talbot said prior to the start of the season.

Sperry has certainly not disappointed her coach or her teammates.

On Thursday, the senior tallied 12 kills, nine digs and nine points with four service aces to lead the Lakers to a 25-12, 25-11, 25-23 win over Union City. That effort came following a 14-dig, 14-kill, two-ace performance in a loss to Saegertown on Tuesday.

“She’s an athlete,” Talbot said of Sperry. “You can put her on any field; she can play any sport. She’s really stepped in and it’s helped.”

Sperry, however, is not so quick to take the credit.

“It’s all about team work,” she said. “That’s how I’ve always been. Even in all my other sports. I always felt like maybe we lacked a little bit of it. But this year, I love the girls and we’re working really hard together.”

Yesterday’s win over the Bears helped the Lakers keep pace with the front-runners in Region 2 as they improved to 5-3 overall and in region play. Conneaut Lake still sits just three games back of region-leading Cochranton (8-0, 8-0 Region 2), who the Lakers took to five games earlier this season.

Saegertown is in second place (7-1, 7-1) followed by Maplewood (6-2, 6-2).

And if Thursday’s match with the Bears is any indication, the new-look Lakers, who made a couple changes prior to last night’s match, are primed to make it a race as the season winds down.

“I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it when I first put (the new lineup) down,” Talbot said. “But we have the athletes and we have the kids out there that can do it. It’s just having a little confidence.

“It worked out pretty well (last night).”

Sperry said a change might have been what the Lakers needed.