ICCP still in hunt for another title

A ton of talent departed and some inconsistent play followed early this season, but don't anyone dare try and tell IC Catholic Prep it can't defend its Class 2A girls volleyball title.

The Knights, who have won eight of nine matches down the stretch, easily knocked off Woodlands Academy 25-5, 25-10 to claim a sectional championship on their home floor Thursday night in Elmhurst. With the win ICCP improved to 21-18 on the year and advanced to Saturday's Christ the King supersectional in Chicago where it will face Watseka.

The Knights were just too tough for the Wildcats (16-13), jumping out to an 11-1 lead following winners by Tess Reardon and Hannah Hartnett. Hartnett, one of three seniors on this year's squad, had a match-high 9 kills on the night and thinks her team is playing its best volleyball at just the right time of the year.

"This has been like a season of learning for us," the outside hitter said. "We have new girls on the team, but we still have a core group back and honestly I think it's shown through. We just kept getting better and it's working for us."

Everything was working for the hosts on Thursday, as setters Reardon and Frannie Cervone were both sharp, the Knights' serving gave Woodlands Academy fits, and a balanced attack clicked throughout.

"Given the competition that we've played this past season and all the practices and all the time that we put in, we're peaking at the right time and we're ready," said Cervone, who had 13 assists in the sectional championship. "One of our goals was to go downstate, so we're on the right track. I think in practice we've learned to push each other and make each other better which has helped us as a team."

Junior middle Claudia Koch had 6 kills and 2 blocks against the Wildcats, and sophomore Katie Hendricks added 5 kills and a block.

First-year coach Nancy D'Amore knew there would be some growing pains this season, but she also knew the cupboard was not bare even after three superstars graduated from last year's state titlists.

"I think I told you this in the middle of the season … we had a lot of girls (back) that had court experience last year," D'Amore said. "We had the players and we had the tools. It just took us a lot longer to find our footing. And that's fine. As long as you find it at the right rime and I really do think we have found it at the right time."

After tasting a title last season, Hartnett wants another one in 2014.

"We want it. We talk about getting back down to state all the time. I think with our energy and our passion I don't think anything is going to hold us back," she said.