Girls volleyball: St. Charles East clicks in win over Cary-Grove
Two coaches with more than 1,000 wins between them squared off Monday night when Cary-Grove traveled to St. Charles East for a nonconference match.
Two matches into the 2018 season, the Saints' Jennie Kull and the Trojans' Patty Langanis are still learning a lot about their respective teams, and both coaches saw things they liked and areas to work on in St. Charles East's 25-14, 25-16 victory.
"Everyone is stepping up at different times," Kull said. "It wasn't our best match by any means. But we made the adjustments. I can see them learning, and that's the most important thing that we can continue the growth."
St. Charles East (2-0) never trailed in either set. The Saints didn't make a single attack error in the first set, and they only missed 1 serve in the second set.
Not only did St. Charles East serve accurately, the Saints served aggressively with aces from 4 different players including 2 each by Calli Gentry and McKenna Slavik.
The Clemson-bound Slavik also had 13 assists, and her 5 kills tied middle Kristen Rogers for the team lead. Sam Urban added 4 kills.
"We're playing really well together," Rogers said. "Our passes are getting right up there and McKenna is an amazing setter and she's getting it right to us. It's really important that our passes are close so she can set the middles. It's been working. Sometimes she (Slavik) even fakes me out. I don't know if she's going to dump it, I don't know if she's going to set me. It's so cool."
One of Slavik's dumps came on the second point of the match and caught Cary-Grove (0-2) off guard. A few moments later, Slavik flipped a no-look shot over her head that found the floor for a kill and a 10-5 lead.
Evynn Layshock tried to keep the Trojans close with 5 of her match-high 7 kills in the first set. Jenna Splitt added 5 kills and 8 assists as Langanis liked the way Cary-Grove attacked.
"We started running some dynamic offense up the middle," Langanis said. "But our ball control wasn't as good (as last week's loss to Huntley)."
Slavik set Rogers for a kill that put the Saints up 20-10. Cary-Grove was called for a lift on set point.
The Saints started the second set with an ace from Slavik and a Rogers kill as they quickly raced to 5-1, 10-5 and 14-8 leads. A tip kill from Layshock started a 5-2 surge for Cary-Grove to pull within 16-13.
Kull called timeout and the Saints responded with a quick sideout on a Rogers kill, then Anita Prybell and Gentry put balls down to extend the lead back to 19-13.
Slavik capped the win by pushing a ball - with her left hand - to the deep corner landing just before a diving Trojan could get there.
"With McKenna and defensively with our kids who are doing well, we're going to be able to run the middle," Kull said. "That's going to be a big part for us."
St. Charles East returns to action this weekend at the Conant tournament while Cary-Grove hosts Crystal Lake South on Tuesday.
"Anytime you get a chance to play St. Charles East that's always a nice matchup," Langanis said. "I was a little disappointed with our mentality on the court. I didn't feel we put up as good of a fight as we have in us.
"But that setter (Slavik) is so good. She takes us out of our game plan a lot. She keeps us guessing. You are playing a collegiate style setter at the high school level. Maybe at the end of the season you'll be prepared for her speed and deceptiveness but right now we have a young team out there and they were just getting caught."