Whips will leave it all on court
NORMAL -- Winning a Class 2A semifinal Friday against Chicago Christian was a delicious appetizer, but the Hampshire girls volleyball team (37-3) intends to take a big bite out of the entree when the Whip-Purs square off against Breese Central (32-8) in the Class 2A title match today at 12:45 p.m. at Redbird Arena.
"This was great," Hampshire coach Karen Whitehouse said of winning the semifinal, "but we've got bigger things left to do. We've got one game left. I'll tell the girls to leave everything out on the court because, for some of them, it will be the last time they'll ever play.
"Leave it on the court. Don't have any regrets."
Hampshire used a triple block to shut down the dangerous middle hitters from Chicago Christian (34-3) in Friday's Class 2A semifinal.
To take the title the Whip-Purs may need to employ a similar strategy or a variation thereof against Breese Central -- a team making its third straight appearance in a state title match.
The 2005 Class A champion and 2006 Class A runner-up, the Cougars' strength is in the middle, an area of the floor patrolled by seniors Lauren Budde (5-10) and Jessica Hemann (5-9). Budde led the Cougars with 345 kills and 205 blocks entering the state tournament. She added to her total with 8 kills in a semifinal victory over previously undefeated Maroa-Forsyth (34-1)
Hemann was the more unstoppable hitter in the semis. She finished with a team-best 13 kills and 2 blocks, adding to the 278 kills and 150 blocks she recorded en route to Redbird Arena.
"They are an impressive team," Whitehouse said. "We have options on our end, and we know what we need to do defensively to stop them. They run the middle a lot. I think if we keep serving aggressively and, hopefully, take the middles out of the game, we'll be all right."
Keeping the Cougars from finding an offensive rhythm could be key.
"We have to serve aggressively and get them off their serve-receive," said sophomore Amy Wehrs, who leads Hampshire with 352 kills this season, including 7 in the semifinal victory. "Don't tip, just play aggressive the whole time."
Hampshire senior Jena Karkos remained red hot in the postseason. The outside hitter recorded a team-high 13 kills against Chicago Christian, elevating her season total to 346 for the season.
"From what we were able to see I think they're pretty talented -- all-around pretty talented," Breese Central coach Jim Cook said of the Whip-Purs. "The way we go into our games is to play the way we know how -- use the strength block and hit hard and drive them back. From what I saw of their hitting, we'll need to be up on our blocks for sure."