Huskies make MSL title match
The Hersey girls volleyball team used an impressive run at the end of the second game to sweep host Prospect 25-20, 25-11 and secure the Mid-Suburban League East championship.
It marks the sixth straight East title for the Huskies under coach Nancy Lill.
The "Volley for the Cure" match at the Jean Walker Field House raised $7,500 to forward to breast cancer research.
In the second game, Hersey led 10-8 before going on a 15-3 run to close out the Knights.
That run was fueled by consistent serving from sophomore Jenni Mueller and senior McKenzie Forbes, great setting from senior Shelly Mueller and a great attack and block led by senior Anne Carroll and junior Katie Lill.
"Our block came together and really made a difference," Hersey coach Nancy Lill said. "We stepped up our defense and had some really nice hitting."
Hersey (20-3, 9-0) was pretty impressive in all aspects of Tuesday's match. Carroll led the way with 13 kills, 6 of them coming off blocks.
But Katie Lill and junior Jamie Welter each had 8 kills of their own, plus Shelly Mueller had 24 assists.
And just twice did the Huskies fail to serve the ball over the net.
"We played pretty consistent ball tonight," Nancy Lill said.
The big swing was Hersey's large run. Prospect coach Mike Riedy said he thought his team tightened up a little bit when the Huskies hit that run.
"They (Hersey) were serving very well and then we had trouble passing," Riedy said. "Once our passing fell apart, they just started to dominate. And then when we did get a pass, they had a really nice block going, which basically dominated the second half of that game."
Riedy said he thought Prospect (12-16, 5-4) caught Hersey off guard a little bit in the first game, and that a 25-20 score in that game was pretty good compared to the first time the two teams met.
But in the second game, things changed in Hersey's favor.
"I think they woke up a little in the second game and we shut down a bit," Riedy said.
Tracy Hefferan led the Knights in kills with 7. Danielle Siwik and Abby Homuth each had 7 assists for Prospect.
Conant d. Schaumburg: Conant (23-4, 9-0) tuned up for today's first-place showdown against visiting Conant with a 25-21, 25-21 victory as Katherine Hozian (13 kills), Mandy Larsen (8) and Georgie Kutramanes (4) led the attack set by Tricia Kutramanes (25 assists). Lynette Mueller led the back row with 8 digs.
Sarah McGinn (8 kills), Ellen Kostecki (6), Emily Young (4) and Jenny Dolan (3) paced the visiting Saxons (9-19, 4-6).
Rolling Meadows d. Buffalo Grove: Visiting Buffalo Grove (5-20-2, 3-6) was led on attack by Jill Kazmierczak (6 kills), Katie Quill (30 and Jacki Sisi (3).
Victoria Ito led the Bison defense with 7 digs and also had 2 aces. Teammate Kelly Sommers collected 12 assists for the Bison and Sam McCormack added 3.
Rolling Meadows (11-18, 3-6) received 4 kills apiece from Dana Demmert and Jackie Rosinski while Katie Stensland handed out 9 assists and Libby Marsh 3.
Elk Grove d. Wheeling: Krystina Leazer (8 kills), Leah Miller (4) and Jessica Condon (2) led the attack for host Elk Grove (19-8, 7-2) in a 25-16, 25-15 MSL East triumph that secured second place in the division.
Kelsey Prochenski (11 assists) and Condon (6) set the offense while Olivia Roback collected 10 digs.
Wheeling (5-23, 0-9) was led on attack by Olivia Semeria, Kelsie Jurik, Kayla Jordan and Bianca Szarfarowicz, who all had 3 kills.
Fremd d. Hoffman Estates: Visiting Fremd (23-5, 8-1) warmed up for today's first-place MSL showdown with visiting Conant by defeating Hoffman 25-9, 25-9 as Stephanie Alesia (10 kills) and Tess Dinterman (4) led the attack.
Natalie Bruck (11 assist) and Kayla Price (7) set the offense.
Alex Wulbecker, Becky Gilbert and Stephanie Schwarz each had 2 kills for Hoffman (8-18, 3-6).
Palatine d. Barrington: Host Palatine (7-15, 1-8) notched its first MSL West with a 25-21, 25-21 triumph as Maddie Meehan served 3 aces and Amalia DeSardi 2.
Kaley Sierawski led the Pirates attack with 9 kills while Kelli Starreneburg and DeSardi each had 3. Setter Jenny Solberg handed out 20 assists. Hannah Guth, DeSardi and Allison Richter each had 2 blocks.
Barrington was led by Emily Harris (9 kills) and Kristin Soderman (6) on attack.
Madeline Lang handed out 20 assists for the Fillies (6-17, 4-6).