Hersey, Schaumburg get back together
When Hersey and Schaumburg first played for a Mid-Suburban League girls volleyball championship, the year was 1973.
The two schools then met three times in four years from 1991 to 1994.
They will reunite in the 36th annual title game as the Saxons (25-7) host the Huskies (21-8) today at 7 p.m.
Schaumburg went 10-0 as the MSL West champs and will serve as the first team other than Barrington to represent the West this decade.
Hersey posted an 8-2 mark while winning the MSL East for the fifth consecutive season and will try to win its second crown in three years.
Schaumburg coach Jeanette Pancratz and Hersey's Nancy Lill, who have each won 600-plus matches, agree the match will come down to serve and serve receive.
"We both struggled in serve receive when we played the first time," said Lill, referring to Schaumburg's 25-20, 10-25, 25- 17 win in the semifinals of the Hersey Invite a month ago.
"I think it's a matter of who executes better in the floor game. And obviously we have to be prepared for Drewann's offense."
Drewann Pancratz, the daughter of Jeanette, has directed the Saxons' offense the past four years.
The talented senior (53 kills and 227 assists at midpoint of season) can strike with the perfect set or a crafty dump shot to unsuspecting defenders.
"She finds every hole on the floor there is," Lill said. "She is very good, and we need to minimize her dumps and drops."
Among Drewann's favorite targets are senior outside hitters Gabrielle Blackwell (117 kills, 28 blocks at midpoint of season) and Heather Bolger (50 kills), senior middle hitters Gryte Satas and Alexandria Jackson (51 kills, 43 blocks) and junior right side hitter Monica Sanchez (27 blocks).
Aleks Kostka (128 digs) is the Saxons' libero while Maggie Kostecki, Sam Kelly and Caitlyn McHugh are key contributors off the bench.
Jeanette Pancratz knows the Huskies also have many weapons.
"I think we certainly have to contain their outside hitters," she said. "Lauren Dembkowski is certainly a strength of their team."
Dembkowski, like Drewann Pancratz, is also a four-year starter.
The outside hitter leads the Huskies with 245 kills, followed by sophomore outside hitter Katie Lill (135), junior middle hitter Ann Carroll (11) and junior middle hitter McKenzie Forbes (109).
They are joined in the starting lineup by junior setter Shelly Mueller and senior right-side hitter Grace Nowack, who has 65 kills.
The Huskies' back court is directed by sophomore libero Becca Haraf and senior defensive specialist Annie Schey.
"We've had quite a few kids play in this match the last few years," Nancy Lill said. "That's definitely an edge but we still have to go out there and play."
"They certainly have more experience playing in the championship match," Pancratz said. "But I think it will come down to serve and serve receive. We'll certainly give it our best. The kids are excited about this opportunity."
The Saxons are also excited about playing on their home floor.
"There's no place like home," Pancratz added. "It's a good thing. But Hersey has had experience in these situations. They are a solid all-around team. They have strong blocking and offensive weapons in all positions. And they're strong in serving."
Haraf has served 44 aces, Mueller has 33 and Dembkowski 25.
"We'll have to keep our errors to a minimum and do the things we do best well," Pancratz said. "It's certainly exciting to go 10-0 in our division. It is highly competitive, and we believe it helped prepare us for the rest of the season. We'll try to represent the West the best we can. We're looking forward to the challenge of meeting Hersey. They have always been a top program."
Lill has the same respect for the Saxons.
"They are a very good team," she said. "That is evident by the way they took care of business in the West. They have players with a lot of experience, too. And every time we play at their place, they get great fan support. We've got to be prepared for that."
Schaumburg won the first three meetings with Hersey in title matches. The Huskies won in 1994.
Overall, Hersey has six MSL titles (1975, 1990, 1994, 1998, 1999, and 2005) while Schaumburg has four (1973, 1991, 1992, 1993).
Girls volleyball
MSL championship: Hersey (21-8) at Schaumburg (25-7), 7 p.m. today