Cary-Grove rolls to Jacobs crown
Losing the likes of Kelly Lamberti, Colleen Smith and Allison Whimpey to graduation and the Division I ranks, you might think Cary-Grove, the Class 4A runner-up a year ago and state champion in 2009, might struggle to start the 2011 season.
Forget about it. The Trojans are ready to go.
Led by a monster 22-kill, 11-block effort by Ashley Rosch, the Trojans captured the 2011 Jacobs Invitational Saturday in Algonquin defeating Stevenson 25-17, 25-16 in the championship match.
“With a lot of new players, we are still working out the kinks,” said Rosch, who will play collegiately at Illinois State. “We are still learning and are still coming together.”
Creighton recruit Melanie Jereb added 12 kills for the Trojans (6-0).
“We don't have the target on our back like we did last year,” said Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis. “This team is working extremely hard. It would be quite an accomplishment if this team ended up at the state tournament at Redbird Arena in November.”
Cary-Grove, which was 3-0 in pool play, got off to a 6-2 start in Game 1 against Stevenson led by 3 kills from Rosch. The Trojans, who never trailed, won the game on an ace by Jereb.
In Game 2, the Trojans broke a 10-10 deadlock with 6 straight points. A kill by Mallory Wilczynski gave Cary-Grove a 16-10 lead. A kill by Jereb gave the Trojans the game, match and championship.
Rachel Baader paced the Patriots with 7 kills.
“Fatigue set in the final match,” said Stevenson coach Tim Crow. “This was a learning experience for us. Cary-Grove is an amazing team.”
Earlier in the day, the Patriots (5-3) took the Trojans to 3 games in pool play. Cary-Grove outlasted Stevenson 18-25, 25-20, 15-12. Rosch led the Trojans with 16 kills.
“That match was more indicative of the team we have,” said Crow. “We played very well and with a lot of energy.”
Jacobs, which finished fourth, won Poo1 1 with a perfect 3-0 mark. The Golden Eagles were hurt in the semifinal match against Cary-Grove by a shoulder injury to setter Taylor Lauder.
Cary-Grove defeated Jacobs 25-16, 25-16.
Alyssa Ehrhardt paced the Golden Eagles (5-2) with 7 kills.
In the third-place match, Waukesha Memorial Catholic knocked off the Golden Eagles 25-18, 25-15. Nikki Madoch paced Jacobs with 5 kills.
“We played very well in pool play and were very happy to be in the championship bracket,” said Jacobs coach Lisa Dwyer. “The injury to Taylor really hurt us. She is a fighter and we missed her intensity.”
Behind Jacobs in the standings in the tournament were Rockford Boylan (fifth), Naperville Central (sixth), Hersey (seventh), Crystal Lake Central (eighth), St. Ignatius (ninth), Belvidere North (10th), Elgin (11th) and Hampshire (12th).