Hersey, Libertyville exceed the hype
A showdown between two of the Daily Herald’s top four volleyball teams lived up to its billing on Thursday night at the Ken Carter Gymnasium in Arlington Heights.
Host Hersey (No. 2) and Liberytville (No. 4) battled to the final points of Set 3 before the Huskies prevailed 21-25, 25-18, 26-24 on an error by the Wildcats.
The match, which featured top-notch setters and liberos from each team, saw the Wildcats earn two chances at match point after Rhiannon Prentiss’ cross court kill made it 24-22.
But Hersey would not allow another point, starting its match-winning rally with a kill by senior Erica Hill.
That brought senior Taylor Schill to the service line.
“Oh my gosh, I was shaking,” said the all-area libero. “I had so much adrenaline.”
The three-year starter showed her poise brilliantly, serving for the final 3 points.
A net call on Libertyville tied the game at 24 before senior Anna Mullen-Muhr made it 25-24 with a tip off a set from Abby Fesl.
“We used Libertyville’s energy to keep us strong,” said Mullen-Muhr, who had 6 kills. “We saw it in their players’ faces and it made us work harder.”
Both teams worked hard for their kills, with the Huskies’ leaders being sophomores Gabriella Olhava (8 kills) and Courtney Stedman (7).
“Gabriella was awesome in the middle,” said North Florida recruit Fesl, who chalked up 23 assists from 81 sets. “All our hitters came through. It’s always great to play against a strong setter on the other team.”
Libertyville setter Cindy Zhou is a Michigan recruit who set the ball 74 times with 20 assists.
“Cindy did a great job,” Fesl said. “They definitely worked our defense and our defense picked it up.”
Schill led the back row with 20 digs followed by senior Allie Mueller (9) and junior Katie Krebs (6).
The Wildcats (1-1) were led on offense by Taylor Zant (12 kills), Prentiss (8), Zhou (7) and Akron-bound Julia Smagatz (6).
“Our girls were able to block well on the pins,” said Libertyville coach Greg Loika. “But inside they had our number. When they passed well and set the middle, we were on our heels a little.”
Sophomore Alex Basler led the visitors with 5 blocks while Hill (7) was the Huskies’ top force in that department.
With Libertyville nursing a 15-14 lead in Set 1, Prentiss put down a kill to trigger a 4-0 Wildcats run and Hersey never got closer than 3.
The Huskies recovered smartly in Set 2, charging out to a 6-0 lead before Libertyville came back to tie it at 7-7.
Hersey put the game away with 3 straight points for a 20-15 lead, getting block kills by Hill and Mullen-Muhr and an attack kill by Schill (4 kills for the match) for the 20-15 lead.
“That was intense,” said Hersey coach Nancy Lill after her team’s season-opener. “You can’t ask for a better start. We have youth and we have our anchors with Abby and Taylor (three-years starters Fesl and Schill).
“It was a battle of two great setters and the liberos were exceptional (Libertyville’s Kristen Webb, who had 15 digs, is a Butler recruit). And our middles (Olhava and Hill) were on fire.”
Hersey freshman Liz Fuerst recorded the first kill and block of her career.
Libertyville led much of Set 3, building its biggest advantage at 16-11 on an ace by Zhou. The Wildcats led 23-20 when Zant scored on a tip off a set from Zhou.
“That’s a set we’ve got to put away,” Loika said. “ We’ll chalk it up to an early-season match and use it as a learning experience.
“Set No. 2 was not the kind of volleyball we play. We got back to it in Game 3 but we didn’t close it out.”
But it was the close match you would expect from two longtime powerhouse programs .
“It’s always close, always three games with Hersey,” Loika said. “And we both always seem to be in the top four in our sectional. They gave us some punches and we gave them some.
“We would have liked to have won but in the long run, it’s only one match.”
One close and exciting match.