Batavia notches 20th win before losing title match
After beating Bartlett 25-23, 25-21 in the semifinals of the Class 4A Bartlett regional, Batavia's girls volleyball team lost to the No. 1 seed, Wheaton Warrenville South 25-15, 25-7 for the regional title Saturday in Bartlett.
The Bulldogs capped the season 20-17 -- their ninth 20-plus win season in Batavia coach Lori Trippi-Payne's 21 year career with the team.
The Bulldogs only had 15 minutes to enjoy their win against No. 8 seed Bartlett before taking on the Tigers. This was the ninth time in school history Batavia has made an appearance in the regional final.
Against Bartlett, the Bulldogs pulled the upset. Kristin Hoffman finished with 3 aces, 20 assists and 5 digs, along with Laura Doolin's 8 kills, 1 block and 1 ace and Taylor Koncelik's 7 kills, 2 aces and 1 block.
"We were the underdog coming in," Trippi-Payne said. "Bartlett has a real nice team."
The Tigers overpowered the Bulldogs and turned it up the second game.
"We played them tough," Trippi-Payne said. "We hung in there. We did what we could. They are good."
Doolin finished with 3 kills and 5 digs against the Tigers.
Girls cross country
At Belividere:ŒWhen it came to expanding the IHSA class system Burlington Central's administration was at the forefront.
Taking first place in Saturday's IHSA Class 2A Belvidere girls cross country sectional is exactly the reason why. The Rockets, who had been at the Class AA Lake Park sectional the past two years, had a pair of freshmen give them a fresh start.
Central (135) edged out host Belvidere (137) to advance to next Saturday's IHSA state meet in Peoria as a team for the first time since 1995, when the Rockets were in the lower of the old two-class system.
"Our principal and our AD were part of the movement to get different classes," Central coach Tom Miller said. "I looked forward to this with the two freshman girls coming in. (Under the old system) we were not going to get anyplace close team-wise."
Central freshman Markelle Turk (18:08) finished third overall and classmate Katie Puccio (18:35.3) placed 16th. Belvidere's Kim Boisvert (18:01.8) was the individual champion and Lakes' Rachel Dean (18:02.2) finished second.
"I kind of stayed back, so (Boisvert) could block my wind," Turk said. "We were nervous and we didn't expect to get first."
Crystal Lake Central (142) finished third, with Rock Island Alleman (154) and Sycamore (163) rounding out the top 5. But all eyes were on Central. Maggie Gannon (30th, 18:59.3) and Lili Castillo (53rd, 19:36.6) both scored for the Rockets to give them their highest team finish since placing sixth in Miller's first year (2001) and the Rockets' last in Class A.
"We completed what we came here to do," Puccio said. "We expected to get first or second."
Although the Rockets loved the new class divide, other area runners didn't feel the same way. St. Edward senior Ashley Lucas, who had advanced to state as both a sophomore and freshman, finished 25th overall with an 18:49.5. Kaneland's Andi Strang was the last individual qualifier, finishing 11th with an 18:32.0.
"Maybe us and (Aurora Central Catholic) could have been shipped to the Chicago sectional," said Lucas, who did not compete in last year's sectional because of an illness. "This is one of the toughest sectionals in the state."
Aurora Central Catholic also fell victim to the higher competition. After qualifying as a team the past two seasons, the Chargers finished sixth as a team Saturday with a 203. Sycamore was fifth with a 163.
Valerie Cintron did garner individual qualification for ACC, finishing 10th in 18:31.7. Cintron finished fifth in last year's sectional and this marks her first trip to state as an individual. The senior admitted that the increased level of competition had an affect on her.
"It kind of psyched me out," Cintron said. "It was intimidating. I was expecting to go for sixth place. I ran as hard as I could have."
Sycamore took top honors on the boy's side scoring a 63. Rock Island Alleman's Tim Hird (14:53.) was the top individual. Burlington Central's Ryan Phebus (15:40.3) was the top area finished at 19th. Kaneland's Kevin Huml (15:41.7) finished a spot below Phebus but neither qualified for state.
Kaneland just missed qualifying for state, finishing with 170 points to take sixth behind fifth-place Dixon's 162.
-- Matt Stacionis
At Aurora Christian:ŒThe Eagles are headed to state following a second-place finish at their own sectional Saturday.
Aurora Christian scored 95 to finish behind only Winnebago's 37.
Sophomore Deanna Jimenez took second in 18:31.9. Junior Kaitlin Bellak was 10th (19:19.7), senior Anna Morgan 18th (19:38.8), sophomore Danielle Gorder 31st (20:10.9) and freshman Sydney Bennett 34th (20:17.8).
Boys cross country
At Aurora Christian:ŒThe Eagles placed seventh out of 12 teams and did not qualify any individuals Saturday at the Aurora Christian regional.
Winnebago won with 63 points. Aurora Christian scored 192.