Girls volleyball: Northwest sectional preview
Buffalo Grove Class 4A sectional
Who: Schaumburg (1), Libertyville (2), Fremd (5), Conant (6)
When: Today at 5 p.m.: 1st semifinal, Schaumburg (29-7) vs. Fremd (27-10); 2nd semifinal (about 6 p.m.): Libertyville (31-6) vs. Conant (22-14); 7:15 p.m. championship
Previous meetings: Libertyville d. Conant 20-25, 25-14, 25-17; Schaumburg d. Fremd 25-16, 24-26, 25-20, Schaumburg d Fremd 25-16, 25-18
Top players: Schaumburg: Gabrielle Blackwell (senior), Drewann Pancratz (senior), Alexandria Jackson (senior), Heather Bolger (senior), Fremd: Stephanie Alesi (junior), Bridget Morton (senior); Conant: Katherine Hozian (junior), Michelle Kopecky (senior), Mandy Larsen (junior); Libertyville: Ali Haws (senior), Emma Mach (senior), Erin DeMarco (senior), Jenny Caren (senior),
What they're saying
Conant's Peggy Scholten: "We played against Libertyville on September 15 at the Stevenson tournament. We lost in three games. Checking back to the statistics and it being early in the season, it was not surprising to see the number of unforced errors. We have grown and matured into a fiercely competitive team since then and one that cannot be overlooked."
Fremd's Curt Pinley: "Any time you play a team of such a high caliber as Schaumburg, you are hoping your team rises to the challenge. Over the last few weeks we have been playing well and have accepted the challenges that have been before us. I think both teams are familiar with each other so I look forward to a great match."
Schaumburg's Jeanette Pancratz: "Fremd is certainly a top-notch program. We have to play Schaumburg volleyball and that is our players' No. 1 focus. Fremd always has had a quality program so we have to play our "A" game."
The coaches: Libertyville's Chris Trzyna is in her 21st season and owns a record of 556-214. She has directed her team to 18 seasons of 20 or more wins, including six with at least 30. Peggy Scholten is the dean of MSL coaches and has guided Conant to three district crowns, five regional titles and a sectional championship in 2002. The Hall of Fame coach is in her 31st season. Schaumburg's Jeanette Pancratz is no stranger to success, either. She is one of the winningest girls volleyball coaches in the state with a record of 652-302 and three sectional crowns (two trips to the state finals in 1992 ands 1994). Fremd's Curt Pinley has compiled a record of 174-145 in 10 years as the girls coach (he is also 281-265 with the boys program). Pinley's girls team has won 20 or matches the last three seasons. Last year, his Vikings ended Barrington's 67-match winning streak which dated back to 1999 which was Pinley's first season as the girls coach at Fremd.
Outlook: North Suburban Conference champion Libertyville will try to spoil the Mid-Suburban West Party. Schaumburg (10-0) was the MSL champion while Fremd (6-4) tied with Barrington as runner-ups to the Saxons in the MSL West. Conant (5-5) took fourth place in the division. Libertyville was in the northwest suburbs on Sept. 22 when it went 5-0 to win the title of the Prospect Invite, defeating the host Knights, Palatine and Wheeling. Three of Schaumburg's eight losses came in the tough Glenbard East Invite late in the season. The Saxons' offense is directed by four-year starter Drewann Pancratz, also an all-area basketball player. Her favorite targets are senior Gabrielle Blackwell (also an all-area basketball standout), senior Alexandria Jackson, senior Gryte Satas, junior Monica Sanchez and senior Heather Bolger. Senior Maggie Kostecki and freshman Emily Young provide depth off the bench. Junior libero Aleks Kostka along with seniors Sam Kelly and Caitlyn McHugh help spark the defense. Conant's big weapon is West Virginia-bound Michelle Kopecky, a powerful attacker who takes her cues from junior setter Tricia Kutramanes. Juniors Mandy Larsen and Katherine Hozian are also big attackers at the net for the Cougars. Seniors Monica Danek and Meghan Melone have helped three back row defense while Georgie Kutramanes has been a serving key with 30 aces. Fremd's middle tandem of junior Kaitlyn Pascus (8 kills) and senior Bridget Morton (7) helped sparked Fremd's triumph in regional final over Lake Zurich (29-7) as they combined for 26 attacks. Setters Michelle Gonnella (senior) and Natalie Bruck (junior) get the ball to that duo as well as to senior Dani Warner and junior Stephanie Alesi. Senior libero Patricia Fehr sparks the defense along with Alesi.
Advancement: Winner of this sectional meets the champion of the Niles North sectional (No. 1 New Trier, No. 4 Maine South, No. 3 Stevenson, No. 2 Glenbrook North) for the championship of the Hersey supersectional Monday at 6 p.m. in Arlington Heights.
-- John Leusch