St. Viator, Hersey eager for sectional volleyball challenges
Two high school volleyball teams located no more than a mile apart in Arlington Heights will continue their seasons in the IHSA state tourney today.
Mid-Suburban League champion and No. 3 seeded Hersey travels east to the Maine South Class 4A sectional, while No. 2 St. Viator heads west to the Woodstock Class 3A sectional.
The Huskies (28-9) will face No. 2 Loyola at 7 p.m. while the Lions (20-17) square off against No. 6 Regina, also at 7 p.m.
St. Viator advanced by winning its third regional crown in coach Charlie Curtin's ninth season with a 26-24, 19-25, 25-22 victory over No. 7 Resurrection.
In their fourth match of the season, the Lions notched a 25-13, 25-18 victory over Regina, but Curtin believes the Panthers are a much different team since then.
"I've heard they are playing real well recently," said Curtin who guided the Lions to a 4A regional crown in 2008 and a 3A title in 2009. "We played them early in the season and they are probably a drastically different team now. We need to make sure we are ready to go."
The Lions will be ready with one of the area's top liberos. Four-year veteran Ellie Meyers owns career school records of 1,470 digs and 1,232 serve receives.
"Fortunately, we've been playing real well and it will be a real competitive match," Curtin said. "All our girls are playing together as a team and clicking in all areas of the game."
The winner between St. Viator and Regina faces the winmer of Tuesday's 6 p.m. semifinal between top-seeded Marian Central Catholic and No. 4 Richmond-Burton.
Meanwhile, Hersey has not played Loyola (25-8) this season but coach Nancy Lill knows the Ramblers are a talented bunch.
"I know they're big and they've got a lot of players back from last year's team that made it downstate," said Lill, who has been downstate three times (1988, '93 and '97) with her Hersey teams and owns 993 career wins. "Loyola is a senior-laden team. Four of the six starters are seniors and with the libero, they have five. Their two outside hitters are seniors. They've got a nice right side hitter and their setter is talented has been starting a few years. They also have a senior libero. They are very athletic and talented."
The Huskies won the Mid-Suburban East for the 13th straight time this fall and won the MSL crown at Palatine.
They've accomplished these highlights with a roster of eight key underclassmen who did not play on the varsity last fall.
"But we are not intimidated by anyone," Lill said. "We're going to have to play our game. We have to play solid defense. We are excited about the opportunity and having the chance to match up with them and see what we can do."
The winner between Hersey and Loyola faces the winner of the 6 p.m. semifinal between top-seed NewTrier and No. 4 Glenbrook North.