Montini enjoys signs of growth

The lumps suffered last fall will be well worth it if Montini's girls volleyball team continues to grow and improve this season.

A very young Broncos squad finished below .500 in 2016 but brought back plenty of talent and experience and the progress so far has been impressive. Montini, fresh off a runner-up finish at Wheaton North's Blue and Gold Classic last weekend, went to Willowbrook on Tuesday night and came away with a crisp 25-15, 25-15 sweep of the Warriors.

Using a balanced attack, strong defense and solid serving, the Broncos improved to 5-2 on the year with the lone setbacks coming at the hands of larger programs Naperville North and Lincoln-Way East.

"We're looking really good this year and I think we can go very far," said junior outside hitter Caitlyn Meeks, just one of several sophomores who started last season. "I really liked playing those strong competitive teams because then we know we can compete with the teams we have in our division as well. So that was a lot of fun, being able to play really strong teams and know that we're competing, that's just a good thing for us."

Meeks was one of many good things going for the Broncos. She recorded a match-high 8 kills in the match, but returning starting setter Joslyn Boyer was on her game with 18 assists and libero Madeline Pickering paced the defense with 7 digs.

"Because everyone that was playing together last year was young, we were able to become better, jell together more and prepare better for a run at state," said Meeks, stating that the program's lofty goals in 2017 include a trip downstate. "I think we are going to be really good because now we have jelled."

Junior outside hitter Lexi Quaglia had two quick kills as Montini jumped ahead 5-1 in the opener, and the visitors built the lead to 12-6 before the Warriors closed to within 12-10 after a kill from Hanna Konrath and a rare Broncos hitting error.

But sophomore Kylie Boyer provided a spark off the bench with 3 kills and an ace as the Broncos took Game 1 25-15. The second game was similar as Montini led 13-7 after a winner from middle hitter Johanna Kingsfield, later led 18-14 and then closed the match by also winning Game 2 by 10 points.

"That's what we were kind of going for. Getting contributions from everybody, which is awesome and running some offense," Montini coach Steve Dowjotas said. "Our biggest thing is if we can limit our mistakes, limit our errors, we're going to be pretty tough to beat in the long run. Especially since we play pretty fast when we're in system."

For Willowbrook, Konrath and Katelyn McCann each had a pair of kills and Konrath also had 7 digs and a pair of aces. Marissa Marcello recorded 8 digs.

"We knew we were going to be coming in as underdogs so we just wanted to come out and try and get the upset," said Warriors coach Irene Mason. "Unfortunately, we didn't have enough tonight. They're a great team."

But Mason has seen some good signs early from her 0-3 squad.

"I keep telling them, if we can get a day where we all click on the same page, the same night, it's going to be a great thing," she said. "But right now, it's a young team, not a lot of varsity playing experience, so we're still getting there."