Volleyball: Exterminators return with national triumph

Even by coach Steve Warren's standards, his women's volleyball team's victory in the most recent USA Open was remarkable.

The Exterminators, a program operated by Warren and consisting of top college and international-level players, came out on top in the USA Volleyball nationals in Minneapolis in late May.

It is the fifth national championship for the Exterminators, who'd had a history of success at the national level but had gone dormant for the previous three seasons before returning to competition this year, thanks in part to sponsorship support from Tom and Sharon Haverstock of Lake Barrington.

One key to the success of this year's team was the contribution of Taylor Fricano, a Palatine High School grad who will be a senior at North Carolina.

The 6-foot-4 all-around standout proved to be extremely valuable. She plays opposite hitter for the Tar Heels but her versatility was a key with the Exterminators.

"Obviously, she's a strong attacker but the part that was so helpful to us was that she was also a good blocker and turned out to be very good in the back row, too," said Warren. "She's what we call a six-rotation player - we didn't have to sub for her, which is very rare. The more touches she got, the better."

The challenge for Warren each year is to pull players together from diverse backgrounds, usually drawing from the collegiate level. Among the key players this year were Rese McNatt, a 6-foot outside hitter from Missouri, and Katie Brand, a setter from Kansas State.

"I knew we'd be inexperienced and young," said Warren, "but I also saw that we had talent, and I knew we'd improve."

The Exterminators used the early rounds of the tournament to experiment with different on-court combinations. That tactical decision paid off as the team excelled down the stretch.

Warren credits continuity in coaching for at least part of the favorable outcome, as longtime assistant Don Cohen again played a key role in preparing the team.

Placing the most recent Exterminators national championship in context with the others isn't easy, according to their coach.

"They're all very special," Warren said. "This one was especially fun because of the circumstances - coming back from a long layoff and taking a bunch of talented individuals, and finding a way for them to become a true team."