Palatine produces in Pifer Invite
Cassie Chaplinsky and Casey Dolen, co-captains for Palatine girls volleyball team, walked up together to receive the championship trophy of the Pifer Invite at Prospect High’s School Jean Walker Field House on Saturday afternoon.
Often, it’s Chaplinsky, Dolen and Kayla Kendzior serve-receiving for the Pirates.
That’s Cassie, Casey and Kayla — say those names fast three times in a row.
“Oh my God,” said Pirates senior setter and all-tourney selection Sarah Schiffner. “I’m yelling the wrong name all the time. They all start with that same sound.”
The Pirates were sound in all phases of the game Saturday, going 5-0 and improving to 15-4.
It was the first time the Pirates swept all their matches (Maine East, McHenry, Lake Park, Prospect JV and Prospect) while winning a tourney in coach Dan Gavin’s six seasons.
“We just came here to try different things,” Schiffner said. “We had some people playing different positions so it was a good opportunity to work on things.”
The Pirates had to make some changes because top attacker Taylor Fricano, a Dayton recruit, was used sparingly due to illness.
“It’s always great to win a tournament and be able to play around with things and have people in different positions,” Gavin said. “The girls did a great job rolling with those changes.
“What was nice is that Taylor (Fricano) was still able to find ways to contribute on the bench even though she wasn’t on the court too much. It was great to see other players step and seize the opporuntiy to play.”
Chaplinsky’s kill was the final point in the Pirates’ final win of the day, 25-8, 25-22 over Maine East.
Val Soderstrom’s 28 kills for the tourney led the Pirates, followed by Chaplinsky (22), Fricano (14) and Butler (10).
All-tourney selection Dolen (41-of-43 serve receiving) paced the back row with 62 digs, followed by Kendzior (31) and Chaplinsky (16).
Schiffner (52 assists) and Alex Heidrich (42) set the offense.
Prospect (9-10, 3-2 in tourney) took third place behind Palatine and runner-up McHenry (4-1).
The Knights were led on attack by all-tourney pick Carly Thompson (16 kills, 14 blocks) and Holly Hunt (29 kills) while Sam Loebbaka (42 digs) and Annie Geweniger (31 digs) each served 5 aces.
Maggie Haaning (55 assists) and Bree Geweniger (28) set the offense.
“Considering we had to fill in (the sixth team) with our junior varsity, I thought it was still a pretty good tournament,” said Knights coach Mike Riedy, who will host Prospect’s annual “Volley For A Cure” on Oct. 2 against Buffalo Grove. “And our junior varsity (with all-tourney selection Maggie Chuipek) did pretty well.”
Elk Grove tourney: Stevenson (17-2 overall) went 5-0 to claim the top prize.