Barrington showing encouraging signs

Although it will be absent from the Mid-Suburban League championship match for the first time this decade, the Barrington girls volleyball team is showing the signs of a championship team.

With Tuesday's 25-17, 25-21 victory at Fremd, the Fillies won their fifth match in four days, nearly matching all the wins they had for the season.

The victory gave Barrington a tie for second place in the final MSL West standings with Fremd. Both teams finished at 6-4, four matches behind champion Schaumburg (23-4, 10-0).

Fremd (15-9) defeated Barrington (11-18) in three games the first time they met on the Fillies' court.

Barrington was 4-1 at the always-strong St. Charles Invite this weekend. The Fillies won four straight after dropping their opener.

"Because we had such a great weekend, we finally played with great confidence," said Fillies senior Marley Leitner, who had a superb all-around match with 8 kills and 11 digs.

"Instead of playing not to lose, we played to win. We plan to keep getting stronger. We don't plan on stopping any time soon."

The Fillies never stopped playing aggressive volleyball in either game, taking 3-1 and 14-5 leads in Game 1 and 6-1 and 11-4 advantages in Game 2.

"When you start chasing, that's always tough," said Fremd coach Curt Pinley, whose club was led on attack by Stephanie Alesi (6 kills) Danielle Warner (5), Kelly Johnson (3) and Kaitlyn Pascus (3). "That St. Charles Invite they (Barrington) played in last weekend will either kill you or pump you up.

"Obviously, they got the wins there and are headed in the right direction."

Jackie Patmore put many balls in the right direction, posting a match-high 11 kills.

Kristin Soderman and Emily Harris each added 5 kills and junior setter Madeline Root had 24 assists.

"The key for us is to play with the right mindset," Patmore said. "We can't make silly errors. Teams haven't been beating us, we been beating ourselves."

But now the Fillies have reeled off five straight, their best stretch of the season.

"Ridiculous," Patmore said her team's recent success. "I guess we're just at a turning point. We feel we should have been winning all along. Now that we are, it's a nice change."

Fremd tried to change Game 2 when it rallied to within 18-15 but Patmore's kill got the Fillies rolling again.

A block by Colleen Anderson brought Fremd to within 24-21 before Patmore received a long set from Root and smashed the match-winner.

"My goal was to not call timeouts and let my team fight through tough times and hope our seniors would step up," said Fillies coach Chris Bronke. "And they did. They learned from our tough matches over the weekend."

Katie Goldrath (14 digs, 12-of-12 serve receiving), Paige Czarnecki (12 digs), Kelly Pickering (14-of-14 serve receiving) helped spark the Fillies' defense.

Buffalo Grove d. Hersey:ΠLauren Angotti put down 11 kills and 3 blocks to help lead host Buffalo Grove (5-22-1, 2-8) to a 13-25, 25-22, 25-23 victory over the MSL East champs (18-6, 8-2).

Brittany Abrahms added 3 kills and 4 blocks for the Bison while Samantha McCormack had 12 assists and Jaclyn Sisi 7. Alyssa Falk collected 11 digs.

Hersey was led by sophomore Katie Lill's career-high 14 kills while McKenzie Forbes, playing outside hitter for the first time, added 11 kills.

Huskies' top attacker Lauren Dembkowski (sprained ankle) did not play but is expected to be ready for this weekend's Maine West Pumpkin Invite.

The Bison rallied from a 5-point deficit in Game 3.

"Lauren Angotti was feasting on our block at the end of the match," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. "And we just could not terminate."

Elk Grove d. Prospect: Katie Loos (7 kills), Anie Fitzpatrick (6) and Michelle Johnson (6) led the attack in a 25-21, 18-25, 25-12 triumph for visiting Elk Grove (18-10, 6-4), which finished above .500 in the division for the first time since 1994.

Kelsey Prochenski handed out 13 assists and Jessica Condon 9.

Prospect (12-16, 6-4) was led by Rachel Hunt (9 kills) Hillary Trebels (7) and Megan Murray (6).

Maine W. d. Glenbrook N.:ΠMary Kusner's and Amanda Zito's double block ended visiting Maine West's 25-23, 11-25, 25-23 victory as the Warriors (16-11, 6-1) moved into a tie for first with Glenbrook North in the Central Suburban North with three matches to play.

Alise Tupuritis (11 kills), Amanda Knipp (4), Maria Rozo (4) and Liz Freeman (3 led the Warriors' attack while Kusner had 5 blocks and a kill. Michelle Obillo served 8 points and 2 aces for the Warriors.

Schaumburg d. Palatine: Schaumburg (23-4, 10-0) closed out a perfect MSL West season with a 25-20, 25-8 triumph as Drewann Pancratz (14 assists) put down 6 kills while Gryte Satas and Heather Bolger each had 4.

Host Palatine (5-18, 2-8) was led by Jenny Solberg (6 kills) and Kaley Sierawski (4).

Meadows d. Wheeling: In a 25-21, 25-17 victory, visiting Rolling Meadows (13-16, 5-5) was led by Jenna Milas (11 kills), Dana Demmert (6) and Katie Stensland (4) while Lindsey Berg had 12 digs and Demmert 11.

Annemarie Spiezia and Nicole Schroeder each had 4 kills for Wheeling (12-16, 3-7), which received 10 assists from Janelle Schroeder.

Conant d. Hoffman Estates: Conant (15-12, 5-5) posted a 21-25, 25- 23, 25-21 victory as West-Virginia bound Michelle Kopecky put down a match-high 21 kills.

Juniors Katherine Hozian and Mandy Larsen each added 8 kills for the visiting Cougars and classmate Kelsey Paulson 4.

Tricia Kutramanes handed out 33 assists.

Hoffman (8-19, 0-10) was led by Memphis-bound Altrese Hawkins, who slammed 16 kills while Ashley Chervinko added 7.

Benet d. St. Viator: Benet won the ESCC match 25-13, 25-12. The host Lions (8-18, 0-8) were led on attack by Cara George's 4 kills while Daniela Presta handed out 4 assists.