With Haaning/Gerber link, looks like Prospect's all set
Over the years, there have been a few Mid-Suburban girls volleyball coaches who have had the chance to coach their daughters on the varsity level.
While Michelle Haaning is not playing for her mother this fall, the Prospect all-area setter has the next-best thing going.
Haaning aunt's, Laura Gerber, is the Knights' first-year coach.
Gerber watched her niece hand out a match-high 30 assists as the Knights (2-1) won their home opener at the Jean Walker Field House 27-25, 25-20 over St. Viator on Tuesday night in Mt Prospect.
"That No. 10 (Haaning) did a great job setting the ball an keeping us off balance," said Lions coach Charlie Curtin, whose club (3-3) won three straight matches on Saturday to win the Blue Division of the Wheaton North Invite. "She did a great job dishing the ball and making us struggle to block."
The Haaning name is hardly unfamiliar to Prospect volleyball.
Michelle's grandparents, Roger and Mary, have been able to watch six grandchildren play the sport at Prospect. Tyler, Kyle and Maggie have graduated while Paige (Laura's daughter) is on the junior varsity team and Carly (Michelle's sister) is on the sophomore squad.
"It's really fun," said Michelle, who is playing for her third coach in three seasons on the varsity. (Mike Riedy and Gabrielle Lovin the last two). "I love that my aunt always plays to win and I know it's going to be a competitive atmosphere. I'm so happy to have this opportunity."
Michelle likes to give her hitters an equal opportunity on attack. Juniors Kaili Myers and Mary Mazurek took advantage of Hanning's sets to put down 9 kills apiece while senior Sammy Withey had 4 and classmate Brenda Kendziera 3.
Junior Maggie Porwit had 2 and senior Nikki Giammarino added 1 as the Knights built a 20-15 lead in Set 1 and 21-15 cushion in Set 2.
But each time, St. Viator clawed back and made things interesting at the end.
"We just started out slow," Curtin said. "We made some big mistakes on big points. But what I liked best was the heart and attitude the girls showed. We were down quite a few points and made nice comebacks both times."
Senior Alyssa Forbes led the Lions with 8 kills, while classmates Emily Hayes and Gabi Thomas put down 4 apiece. Sophomore Michaela Mueller handed out 13 assists.
"We need to serve more aggressively to keep teams off balance," Curtain said.
Haaning's ability to keep Viator off balance included a couple of nifty kills of her own, including one in Set 1 that put her team ahead 14-7.
"It's been a smooth transition," Haaning said about her aunt taking over the program. "It's definitely nice having her because we all know her from being in the program's m (former sophomore coach). We are excited for the season."
Senior Ellie Meyer, an all-area libero, made things exciting in the Lions' backcourt where she collected 20 digs, followed by 15 from Mueller.
But the Knights were able to finish in each set. They got the final 2 points in Set 1 with Haaing at the service line. They took advantage of an illegal contact call and an a hitting error.
"They were tipping left front," Hanning said. "Once we picked that up, it made things much easier. We ran a fast offense and our passing was clicking."
Clicking in the back row was Giammarino, who had 22 digs followed by Porwit (9) Haaning (8), Myers (8) and Kelly Prete (7).
"I definitely feel we have been improving each year," Haaning said. "And we have big goals for this season."
A season in which her last will be with her aunt as the head coach.
"I love it," Gerber said. "Michelle a really good player, and very coachable. It's crazy I get to her coach her for her final varsity season. It's fantastic."
Evanston d. Schaumburg: Defending Mid-Suburban West champion Schaumburg dropped its season opener at Evanston.
The Wildkits posted a 25-21, 13-25, 25-16 triumph over the Saxons, who were led on attack by Abbie Rahn (8 kill), Katherine Coombs (4) and Mallory Gerber (3). Jordyn Harberts handed out 9 assists.