Schaumburg completes run to MSL West title

Anna Hauser could root for for both sides on Thursday night when the Schaumburg and Conant girls volleyball team met in a crucial Mid-Suburban West match.

Afterall, Hauser was going to be on the winning side no matter what.

Her daughter is Jeanette Pancratz, the Saxons head coach. Her granddaughter is Drewann Pancratz, the Cougars head coach.

It was a special night for Hauser and then became a special night for the Saxons, who clinched the MSL West crown with a 25-20, 25-21 victory on parents night.

Several alumni from the Schaumburg volleyball program were also part of the big crowd that watched the Saxons advance to the MSL title match for the first time since 2010.

The Saxons (19-9, 9-1) finished one match ahead of Fremd (17-6, 8-2) in the MSL West.

"It was a great match with a fabulous atmosphere and great level of competitive intensity on the floor," said Jeanette, who won her 781st career match. "It was really exciting to be a part of this."

"It was fun to see all the past players and fans come out and support us," Drewann said. "I had aunts and uncles here. It's just a fun family rivalry. You want to win the match but she (Jeanette) deserved it. Her kids worked hard for it."

Senior Jada Blackwell worked the Saxons crowd into a frenzy in the final points of Set 2. She made a splendid save near the corner of the court to keep a rally going, and then slammed the kill to make it 23-20.

After a kill by Katherine Coombs (team-high 5 blocks) made it 24-21, Blackwell came back with the match-winning ace to send the Saxons to Hersey for next Thursday's MSL title match.

"This is so exciting," said senior Oyinkan Akinola, who put down a match-high 12 kills. "Jada stepped up immensely and played out of her mind."

The Saxons were playing without their No. 2 attacker, junior Abbie Rahn, who broke two bones in her hand while bracing it on the bleachers following a kill attempt in the Saxon Invite. The injury occurred in Schaumburg's first match of the morning.

Rahn will have the hand evaluated on Monday.

If no bones have shifted, it could require a soft cast and Rahn could possibly return in two weeks. Otherwise surgery may be required and she would face an eight-week layoff.

"It's unfortunate what happened to Abbie," Akinola said. "She is really a key player for us. We all felt we really needed to step up for her and we had players who did that. Everyone had to take a leadership role and Jada really did that at the end. I'm so proud of everyone on the team."

Blackwell, Lexi Ross and Mallory Gerber each had 4 kills for Schaumburg while Hannah Moore led the back row with 11 digs. Megan Hayes handed out 10 assists.

"I just felt like everyone stepped up and did their job," said Blackwell, who also handed out 12 assists in her setting role. "It feels great."

Drewann Pancratz said it was great experience for her players.

"It was great for them to play in this environment," said Drewann, who was introduced prior to the game as a 'Saxon legend" by the PA announcer.

It was Drewann's first time back to her high school gym as a head coach. She also served the last two years as the Leyden head girls basketball coach. Her grandmother Anna was also at a game to watch Drewann coach the Eagles.

The Cougars (10-15, 3-7) were led on attack by DeeDee Durr (4), Katie Lomas (3) and Alissa Wachal (2), Jorie Wachal (2) and Rachel Delanois (2) while setter Elisa Ambrose handed out 10 assists. Durr had 12 digs and Dhara Patel added 10. Jorie Wachal also had 3 blocks.

"I thought Conant did a nice job of staying relentless throughout the whole match," Jeanette said.

"Our girls played well," Drewann said. "They fought hard and I thought our passing was pretty right on. I thought we made a nice adjustment on Oyinkan, who is probably the best hitter we've seen so far."

Akinola served 7 straight points to give Schaumburg a 12-5 lead in Set 1. The Cougars climbed to within 15-13 and 19-18 before the Saxons eventually won 25-20 on Akinola's kill off a set from Hayes.

Conant had leads of 4-0, 10-7, and 12-9. The set was tied at 13, 15 and 16 before Schaumburg scored 4 straight points with two blocks coming from Ross.

"Everyone played their roles," Jeanette said. "We had some great plays offensively and defensively from our middles (Ross and Coombs). Morgan Sterrett (freshman) and Mallory Gerber (sophomore) had more active roles (with Rahn out of the lineup) and stepped up and did what they needed to do."

"We're all here for Abbie," Gerber said. "And she was right there on the bench cheering us on."

And, of course, there were cheers for both sides from one fan.

Anna Hauser could not lose on Thursday night.