Hampshire snares Oregon title, now 6-0
The defending state Class 2A runner-up is at it again.
The Hampshire girls volleyball team rolled through the competition at the Oregon tournament Saturday, winning the championship and improving to 6-0 for the season.
The Whips opened play Friday with wins over Stillman Valley (25-21, 22-25, 15-10) and Dakota (25-21, 25-18) and concluded pool play Saturday with a 25-15, 25-18 win over West Carroll. Facing Lena-Winslow in the semifinals, Hampshire earned a bid to the title match winning 25-13, 25-14.
Earning all-tournament honors, Kara Wehrs (98 assists, 30 kills) and sister Amy Wehrs (59 kills) helped the Whips defeat Orangeville 28-26, 25-15 for the championship. Cassie Dumoulin (14 stuff blocks), Chessa Osiecki (42 digs) and Jen Hubbe (22 kills) each added crucial contributions.
"This was a great way to start the season," said Hampshire coach Karen Whitehouse. "We won it last year so expectations were set high. It was just really nice to see how our girls came out and played together as one unit. They were outstanding."
Burlington Central 3rd at Geneva: Finishing action at the Geneva tournament 3-2, Burlington Central earned third-place honors defeating Morris 25-15, 25-13. Led by junior Stephanie Holthus, who had 65 kills, 35 digs, 9 blocks, 10 aces and was a perfect 63-of-63 on serve/receive, the Rockets racked up wins over IMSA (25-6, 25-12) and Lincoln Park (25-10, 25-15) before losing to Geneva 25-22, 25-23 and later to Joliet Catholic in three games (2-25, 25-17, 25-18).
"I thought we played very strong," said coach Marv Leavitt. "We competed against two of the better teams in the area very well."
Molly Turk (22 kills, 116 assists, 6 aces, 13 blocks, 26 digs), Taylor Scully (27 kills, 12 digs), Meghan Casada (22 digs, 9 blocks) and Kaitlyn O'Reilly (50 assists) each added key contributions for the Rockets.
South Elgin at West Aurora tournament: Despite South Elgin's (0-6) struggles to get a victory in the West Aurora Tournament, the Storm saw solid efforts from Tara Bradley (21 kills, 7 aces), Sarah Havermann (32 digs) and Hayley Bradley (16 kills, 4 aces). South Elgin fell to Sycamore (25-18, 25-21), Bartlett (25-13, 25-22), Mount Assisi (25-21, 25-18), Minooka (26-24, 25-12) and Streamwood (16-25, 25-16, 15-13).
At Plainfield North: Crystal Lake South took fifth place and Huntley sixth at the Plainfield North tournament. The Gators were led on Saturday by Katie Trayser (9 kills, 13 digs), Ervin Johnson (7 kills, 2 blocks) and Fallon Meyer (18 digs). Huntley (4-3) Alyson Stellmach had 13 kills on the day to lead the Red Raiders and Sam Boesch had 11.
Crystal Lake South (5-1) won the Silver Division after topping Huntley 25-23, 25-17.
"It's a letdown always, but I'm still really happy with how they finished and how they played," CLS coach Jorie Fontana said. "If we are going to take our losses, I'd rather do it now. It's a little bit of a letdown, but I think the girls learned a lot from it."
CLS improved to 5-1 and Huntley is now 4-3.
"We are very excited," Huntley coach Michelle Jakubowski said of placing sixth. "(Friday) we went three (games) with Rosary and today we beat Plainfield North and played (Crystal Lake) South tough in the first game and didn't give up in the end. I can't wait to play South again Tuesday. I'm proud of my girls."
John Radtke, Jen LaPorte and Christine Bolin contributed to this report.