Girls volleyball: Scouting Class 3-4A regionals

Class 4A CL South sectional

Jacobs regional

Pairings: Match 1, Saturday at 2 p.m: No. 1 Crystal Lake South (22-13) vs. No. 4 Jacobs (15-20, 2-8); Match 2 at 3:15 p.m.: No. 2 Cary-Grove (27-9) vs. No. 3 Dundee-Crown (25-10); Match 3 at 4:30 p.m.: Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2

Outlook: On the bright side, someone from the Valley Division of the Fox Valley Conference is guaranteed to win a regional title this weekend. Unfortunately, three of the five teams from the Valley Division can't, thanks to this mini-division tournament conceived by the IHSA. No need for scouting; these combatants all know each other well after two matches against one another. Crystal Lake South, unbeaten Valley champion, is the favorite. Led by 6-foot-3 junior middle Erin Johnson, who is committed to the University of Illinois, and 6-1 right-side hitter Morgan Kilberger (Wisconsin-Milwaukee), the Gators swept a pair of two-game matches from Jacobs during the regular season. "We beat them twice but the first time took longer," said Gators coach Laura Jensen of a 29-27 result in Game 2 of the Sept. 20 meeting. "We struggled a little bit at Autumnfest (at Glenbard East), so we sat down as a team and had a long chat afterward. It was more the girls talking to each other, and they got on the same page. We've come together since." Besides Johnson (183 kills in in 313 attempts, 211 blocks) and Kilberger (155 kills, 309 attempts, 87 blocks), junior setter Jordan Guida has the luxury of setting junior hitter Katie Trasyer (5-10), sophomore Caitlin Schumacher (5-8) and junior Caitlin Mize (6-1). CL South, literally, is a tall order to overcome. "It's pretty tough to block their trees, or even slow the ball down against them," Jacobs coach Lisa Dwyer said. "It's all about timing and being willing to run your butt off with your arms up. We're going to have to play a perfect game to beat them, pass every ball perfectly to our setter on our serve-receive. We have to move every ball with a purpose." The Golden Eagles are at their best when they can free up leading hitter Lauren Pigatto. The match between Cary-Grove and Dundee-Crown could go either way. Cary-Grove beat Dundee-Crown twice. Dundee-Crown beat Woodstock twice. Woodstock beat Cary-Grove twice. So go figure. Cary-Grove is itching to get another shot at CL South, which beat the Trojans twice during the regular season, the first time by a 25-23 final in Game 3. Last year the Trojans won both regular-season meetings but were vanquished by the Gators in a regional final. The Trojans would love to return that favor but they can't overlook tough Dundee-Crown. "With (senior outside hitter) Amanda Lutzow on the outside, Dundee-Crown is a tough team to face," Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis said. "Yes, we've beaten them twice, but if Lutzow gets going, she's difficult to stop because she's so versatile and talented. But we believe we can win this regional and we've been working every day in practice this week on every aspect of what we need to be able to do to beat Dundee-Crown and either Jacobs or South. It comes down to us executing two perfect matches. We have the ability to do that." Dundee-Crown will have similar problems against the Cary-Grove front line of Taylor Szatkowski, Danielle and Breanna Smith and freshman Kelly Lamberti. "It's going to be tough at this regional," said D-C coach Tracy Williams, whose Chargers have set a new school record for wins (25). "But it's very hard to beat a team three times, so we'll see how we do."

Prairie Ridge regional

Pairings: Match 1 Saturday at 5 p.m.: No. 1 Woodstock (26-9) vs. No. 4 Grant; Match 2 at 6 p.m.: No. 2 Prairie Ridge (19-16) vs. No. 3 McHenry (5-25); Regional championship match at 7 p.m.: Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2

Outlook: The Wolves have the home court advantage, but they do still have the swagger necessary to win their sixth straight regional title and eighth in nine years? The Ridge is led by setter Taylor Brauneis, senior middle blocker and three-year starter Ashley Doherty and hitter Sondra Parys. Parys paced the Wolves with 13 kills last week in a momentum-building win at Johnsburg, a 23-win team. The Wolves should get by the Warriors, a team they swept in McHenry on Sept. 6. That would set up a tough match against improving Woodstock, which last week knocked off Cary-Grove for the second time this season. The Blue Streaks are led by outside hitter Brennae Benda and senior setter Arielle Penza.

Class 3A Freeport sectional

Huntley regional

Pairings: Match 1 Saturday at 4 p.m.: No. 1 Sycamore (33-2) vs. No. 4 Kaneland; Match 2 at 5:30 p.m.: No. 2 Burlington Central (32-3) vs. No. 3 Huntley (13-22); Match 3 at 7 p.m.: Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2

Outlook: Burlington Central won its first Class AA regional last season prior to the split into four classes, and the Rockets only got better in 2007. "We've had a fantastic season so far," said coach Marv Leavitt. " I'm very, very proud of my team. They were (Big Northern East) champs , they played well in tournaments, they are very close on the court and very tight off it. Now, here you go, as a reward for your success and a great year you get to go against Huntley and, if you win, the winner of Sycamore and Kaneland." If the Rockets win their first Class 3A regional, they will have earned it. First, they have to face an improving Huntley team on its home court. The Red Raiders are led in kills by senior outside Krissy Bergquist (5-11), Taylor Karns (5-8) is a points-producer, sophomore hitter Toni Jaehnig (5-9) leads the team in aces and junior Allyson Stellmach (6-0) in blocks. "I believe our regional is one of the toughest in the area," Huntley coach Michelle Jakubowski said. "Burlington and Sycamore are great teams. We have worked very hard this week to prepare for the regional. We are playing some of our best volleyball." If seeds hold, the final sets up as a showdown between two powers. Burlington Central is led by athletic junior setter Molly Turk (Northern Iowa), a true court leader with 790 assists, 92 kills, 155 digs and 90 blocks. Turk has weapons galore: 6-1 senior middle Teresa Krog (Murray State), an efficient hitter with 243 kills in 420 attempts; super sophomore Stephanie Holthus, who has 223 kills despite missing 10 matches; Kim Ingraham, a double threat with 150 kills and a team-best 120 blocks; and Rachael Latham, a potent hitter with 130 kills. "It looks very competitive," Sycamore coach Debbie Klock said. "Kaneland and Huntley both have nice ballclubs and in the postseason with younger players moving up, anything can happen. It will be very competitive, and you will get your money's worth." Sycamore went undefeated in winning the Western Sun Conference The Spartans are loaded with talent at the net: 6-4 senior middle Allison Johnson (Missouri); 6-2 junior middle Sam Thrower; 5-10 outside hitter Lauren Evans (Gardner-Webb). They area all fed by senior setter Caitlin Johnson (Drake). Holthus is back in full health. Burlington's scariest hitter missed four days of school and the Harvard match last week due to illness, but she returned to practice this week.

-- Jerry Fitzpatrick