Hersey soph Lill's hitting catches foes off guard

As a four-year starter and elite setter, Schaumburg's Drewann Pancratz has become a household name in Mid-Suburban League volleyball.

The daughter of Saxons coach Jeanette Pancratz has helped guide her mother's team into Wednesday's title match against visiting Hersey.

The Huskies, coincidentally, also have a player whose mother is their coach.

And Katie Lill, a sophomore in her first varsity season, is threatening to make her name just as popular as Drewann Pancratz by the time Lill's three-year varsity career concludes.

Katie, the daughter of Hersey coach Nancy Lill, produced the finest match of her career Tuesday when she put down a match-high 14 kills in a three-game loss at Buffalo Grove.

Katie often defies her 5-foot-9 height, spiking the ball past blockers 5-10 or taller.

Her mother used to do the same at Riverside-Brookfield High School and the University of Illinois.

"I really wish I could have seen my mom play," said Katie with a big smile. "She was an outside hitter, too. I'll bet she was the same type of player as me."

Katie Lill is the type of player who can catch you off guard.

While she may not have an intimidating physical presence at the net, superb jumping ability and volleyball savvy have helped Lill become the second-leading attacker for the Huskies behind four-year starter Lauren Dembkowski.

"I was really nervous to start the season," Katie said. "I knew I was kind of in Lauren's shadows. It's hard to play at Lauren's level, but she has helped me to push myself and get better."

Katie helped pick up the slack for Dembkowski, who missed Tuesday's match with an ankle injury.

Dembkowski is expected to be ready for this weekend's Maine West Pumpkin Invite.

At the halfway point of the season, Lill's 81 kills were second on the team to Dembkowski's 156. Lill was also No. 2 in serving (.961 percentage, 14 aces) and No. 3 in digs (100) at that point.

"It's really cool and feels good that I can contribute something," Katie said. "I feel like I've done something to help the team."

Katie was able to learn the game as a youngster attending her mom's matches at Hersey.

Lill has played for the Lake Zurich-based Rolling Thunder club the last few years, and Nancy has also been her coach with that organization.

"It would be weird now having any other coach because I am so used to her," Katie said.

Katie's 15-year-old Blue team qualified for the nationals in Minneapolis and finished 21st in the country in its division.

"She's coming on," Nancy Lill said after her daughter's 14 kills Tuesday. "It's been fun to see. She's doing a nice job."

Power hitter: Barrington's Jackie Patmore is one of the strongest hitters in the Mid-Suburban League.

After spraining an ankle in the first week of practice this fall, she's just glad to be hitting at all this fall.

"I was so scared I was going to miss the season," she said. "When I went down I was in tears."

But the ankle healed and now she often puts tears into the eyes of defenders trying to block and dig her powerful spikes.

The 6-2 senior middle hitter verbally committed to Washington University in St. Louis, where she plans to study English with a double major in psychology and social work.

Barrington grad Claire Voris, this year's Daily Herald honorary captain of the All-Area softball team, is also studying and playing softball at Washington.

"I've know Claire for a long time," Patmore said. "So that will be fun."

Patmore, a National Honor Society student with a 4.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale, is also involved on the student board, Students for Animal and Environmental Life, Spanish Honor Society and Model United Nations.

She serves as a mentor, tutor, and a teaching assistant. She also works on the yearbook staff.

"Not much time to sleep," she said with smile.

It's been easier to smile lately for Patmore and her Fillies, who have won five straight matches after a 6-18 start.

Junior setter Madeline Root has been running the show the last week.

"We have such a great connection," Patmore said. "I feel so confident with her out there. We really trust each other so much, and that's a nice thing to have on the floor."

"Madeleine is getting amazing sets to all of us," added senior Marley Leitner, another powerful Fillies hitter. "And she is doing real well in the front row. She's getting real aggressive."

On the move:ΠSince its defeat to Glenbrook North three weeks ago in Des Plaines, the Maine West volleyball team (16-11) had gone 9-2, including a loss to Niles North sectional No. 1 seed New Trier.

The Warriors avenged that loss to the Spartans on Tuesday night with a three-game victory in Northbrook.

Through Wednesday, the two teams were tied for first place in the Central Suburban North with 6-1 records.

"Since the first match with Glenbrook North, we adjusted one rotation that statistically gave us more points," said Warriors coach Randy Tiller. "In our win at Glenbrook North, all 11 of our eligible players were in the match and contributed statistically. I'm really proud of the whole team."

Tourney trail: This weekend's tournament action is highlighted by the Maine West Pumpkin Invite in Des Plaines.

The 24-team event is headed by top-seeded Wheaton St. Francis, which is No. 8 in the Daily Herald poll.

Action starts tonight with pool play.

Hersey is the highest-seeded area team at No. 5 and will face Belleville West and Oak Forest.

Barrington meets Downers Grove South (No. 5 in the Daily Herald poll) and Oak Park-River Forest.

Other local entries are Wheeling, Hoffman Estates and the host Warriors.

Other tourney action Saturday includes the Grayslake North Invite (Fremd) and Glenbard East Invite (Schaumburg).