Hersey wins MSL title
Hersey started on a low note in Thursday's Mid-Suburban League girls volleyball championship match.
But the Huskies hit the high notes in the next two games and the final composition was the same old tune.
For the third straight year, Hersey claimed the MSL title with a 12-25, 25-17, 25-21 triumph over visiting Schaumburg in the Ken Carter Gymnasium.
The Saxons were the last team to defeat Hersey in the title match in 2007.
“I think it was a little overwhelming for us (Game 1) with all the people here,” said Huskies veteran libero Jenni Mueller, who collected a match-high 14 digs and 4 aces. “We really haven't played in this environment all season. But we had a talk after Game 1 and we pulled through.”
The Huskies (25-5) had their large cheering section making some noise in Game 2, jumping ahead 3-1.
The Saxons (21-13) answered and tied it at 4-4 but a double block by Alexa Stedman (7 kills, 3 blocks) and Maggie Hogen (3 kills, 3 blocks) put the Huskies back ahead for good in the game.
Back-to-back aces by Mueller (11-of-12 serving) made it 11-7. Mueller's third ace made it 23-16.
Sophomore Abby Fesl (26 assists) followed with a nifty back-pedaling set to 6-foot-1 junior middle blocker Kristen Pedersen, who put down the kill for game-point.
Schaumburg's hard-hitting Emily Young hammered a kill to make it 24-17 before Huskies senior Christine Solans registered the game-winner.
“It (opening-game setback) was just a lack of experience, just nerves,” said Hersey coach Nancy Lill, who was coaching in her eighth straight title game. “We had so many unforced errors. It was our worst game all season.”
But the Huskies made sure not to repeat it in the next two.
Game 3 was tied five times before Hersey nudged ahead for good at 9-8 on Stedman's tip off Fesl's quick set.
The Huskies increased the lead to 14-10 but Schaumburg battled back within 15-14.
Fesl's three straight serve points gave the hosts a 19-14 advantage.
The closest Schaumburg would get was 22-20 on a Hersey on a hitting error.
But the Huskies got a kill from Solans (8 kills, 6 digs) and block by Pedersen to make it 24-21.
After Young put down her seventh kill, Stedman's seventh kill off a quick set from Fesl ended the match.
Kelsey Haas added 4 kills for Hersey while teammate Taylor Schill collected 10 digs and was 10-of-11 serving.
“They started swinging off the block more in Game 2,” said the USC-bound Young (11 assists, 3 blocks, 1 ace). “We needed to focus and pass as a group. They were tipping more, too. They got a momentum change and we didn't bring it back to our favor.”
Pedersen finished with 8 kills and 6 blocks.
“Talk about a huge match,” Lill said. “We kept asking our kids who was going to step up, and everyone did. We graduated five all conference players, so we are young. It was just a matter of us getting things going and eliminating our errors.”
Schaumburg took advantage of Hersey's mistakes in Game 1 and also produced solid play of its own.
Back-to-back blocks by Sara Travis (6 blocks) and Young gave the visitors a 12-6 lead. Hersey never got closer than 5 and Saxons sophomore Kelly Koutnik served for the final 5 points.
“I think we got the nerves out of our system after that first game,” said Hersey senior defensive specialist Danielle Perkins, who was 12-of-13 serving. “We said, ‘OK, we know what's going on now' and our fans helped us a lot.”
Koutnik added 5 kills for Schaumburg while junior Bria Hailey (5 blocks) and Rebecca Thompson each had 2 kills.
“Hersey got its offense in rhythm in Game 2 and we struggled to change the momentum,” said Saxons coach Jeanette Pancratz. “And we also struggled to get our offense in rhythm.
“But our girls stayed in the moment, stayed focused and were relentless. We just couldn't get a momentum change.”
And the MSL champion's momentum didn't change from the last two years.
“This is what we've worked for all season,” Solans said. “Everyone did their share in the second and third games.”