Rockets thriving, even without Holthus

It should come as no shock that Burlington Central has bolted from the gate this season despite the absence of sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Holthus.

Without their hitting star in the lineup over the summer, the Rockets still managed second place at the 30-team Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Tournament.

Central remains without Holthus, who broke her foot during the school's summer camp -- "It happened about about five feet in front of me," said Rockets coach Marv Leavitt -- though she was cleared to practice this week.

Still, don't expect to see her in match action for another week to 10 days, Leavitt said.

There are few worries in the meantime for the Rockets (6-2), whose only two setbacks came at the Geneva Tournament against highly-regarded Joliet Catholic and Kelly Murphy, the top-ranked senior in the country.

Leavitt credited several players for stepping their games up in Holthus' absence, most notably seniors Brooke Porto and Brittany Priest.

Porto is filling in for Holthus at outside hitter, a position she hasn't played in years.

"I really have to credit the job Brooke has done," Leavitt said. "She's a libero playing the outside, where she hasn't played since she was a freshman. But she has come in and really done a great job for us."

Priest, a junior, has taken on the full-time libero role while Porto fills in at hitter. The two will share time at the libero position once Holthus returns. "They're both so good you want them to each get in the game," Leavitt said. "This will just give us a little more depth."

Leavitt also credited Rachael Latham for Central's early success. The senior has become the team's No. 1 hitter in Holthus' absence. Tuesday Latham connected on 8-of-9 hitting attempts for 7 kills in a two-game sweep of Larkin.

Long time coming: It had been six years since a Cary-Grove volleyball team had beaten Prairie Ridge.

Trojans coach Patty Langanis reminded her players of that tidbit prior to Tuesday's match.

"They were out to make a little history and change something we didn't like," said Langanis, whose team improved to 6-1 with the victory.

Contributions came from every corner: senior Erin Wahl's ace to force match point; Allison Straumann's 6 kills and 4 aces, Abbey Heredia's 34 assists; senior middle Jamie Kuhl's 4 blocks; and the match-clinching kill by senior outside Danielle Smith, who finished with 9 kills.

Tying Smith with a match-high 9 kills was freshman Kelly Lamberti (5-foot-11), the younger sister of 2007 graduate Lauren Lamberti (Connecticut).

The younger Lamberti is a quiet, unassuming girl off the court, Langanis said, but her demeanor changes once the 14 year old steps between the lines.

"Under pressure she's a whole other person," Langanis said. "She screams for the ball, she's emotional and very aggressive. She and (Lauren) are very similar in that regard."

Opponents have been impressed, too.

"She's a strong player, one you have to worry about," Prairie Ridge coach Stefanie Otto said. "You can't overlook her."

Prairie Ridge and Cary-Grove will meet again Saturday at the Prairie Ridge Invite.

Getting focused: Don't shed any tears for Prairie Ridge just yet, folks.

The Wolves are finding their way as they adjust to life without four-year setter and three-year captain Hillary Haen (Illinois), but Prairie Ridge coach Stefanie Otto sees positives everywhere despite Tuesday's 3-game loss to Cary-Grove in a classic nail biter.

"I like the fact these girls want to win, that they have the desire, that they're aggressive and they don't quit," Otto said. "I see them starting to focus because they have that desire to get better. I see them starting to be a team instead of individuals.

"We've had a very slow start, I feel, but I still see big things happening for this team. We just need to find the right combinations, and I don't think we've done that yet."

The Wolves can keep playing with combinations this weekend at their own invitational with rematches against Barrington and Cary-Grove. Also in the six-team, five-match tournament is St. Charles East, which took defending state champion St. Francis to 3 games last Saturday in the title match of the Early Bird Tournament in Palatine.

Break up the Whip-Purs: Hampshire has a short-term goal: enter the conference season undefeated.

The Whip-Purs won the Oregon Invitational last Saturday by beating Winnebago 25-12, 25-19 for the title, then swept Hinckley-Big Rock Tuesday in nonconference play to improve to 7-0.

After Thursday's rematch against Winnebago, Hampshire will face some stiff competition this weekend at the DeKalb Tournament, which includes the host school, McHenry, West Carroll and Plainfield North.

"We try to set goals, and one we really want is to enter the conference season undefeated," said coach Karen Whitehouse, who counted the team's improved blocking and the play of libero Jen Kondrat among reasons for the unblemished start.

The Whips open play in the Big Northern Conference's Eastern Division this Wednesday at Richmond-Burton. The first of two showdowns with rival Burlington Central is set for the Purple Palace on Monday, Sept. 24.

Resilient: Streamwood bounced back from a 25-20, 25-13 loss to Dundee-Crown in the season opener to place third at the West Aurora Tournament last Saturday.

The Sabres lost to Sycamore and Waubonsie Valley, the latter of which is an Upstate Eight Conference opponent coach Kevin Kwon said prior to the season he wanted his team to compete better against this seaason.

"We did challenge them," Kwon said. "We just need to fine tune some things, strengthen our strengths and strengthen our weaknesses."

One strength remains Katie Post, who finished the tournament with 37 kills to go with 4 aces. Hue Le posted 6 aces and 11 kills while Betsy Holman notched 23 kills for the tournament.