SCHAUMBURG – Mental toughness might be the reason the St. Charles East girls volleyball team came away from Schaumburg High School with a Class 4A regional championship Thursday night.

The Saints trailed late in both games against the host Saxons before rallying to win 25-23, 25-23.

“It’s not experience, but it’s almost that we want it so bad,” East senior Nicole Woods said. “That was our goal from the beginning of the season – just to get as far as we possibly can, and that’s really what’s driving us and what made us win.”