Splitting sectional matches makes coaches happy

Looking back a year later, Brie Isaacson must think winning the state volleyball title maybe wasn't her Naperville Central Redhawks' most amazing feat.

How about beating Downers Grove South and Benet on the same night in sectionals?

"I'm proud to say we did survive it," Isaacson laughed.

Naperville Central's sectional is no less stacked this year - what with No. 1 Benet, Naperville North and Downers Grove South rounding out the top four seeds at Downers Grove South. At least there is a breather.

The IHSA last year decided to play regional and sectional semifinals and finals the same night to cut down on travel costs. When this year's playoffs begin in two weeks, though, normalcy returns. Semifinals will be played on one date, with championships later in the week.

"To think that last year you asked a team to come out of the toughest sectional in the state," Isaacson, "and asked them to come out of it in one night, it's insane. While the sectional is never fair, this is the most fair it can be."

Isaacson pointed out that the change back allows for teams to scout potential opponents, or an injured player to return for the next match. Her opinions are echoed by other coaches.

"It was inevitable that we were going to go back to having the matches on different nights. At least I hoped it was inevitable," said Glenbard South coach Sherry Hudson, whose team lost to St. Francis in a Class 3A regional final last year.

Hudson didn't buy the notion of cutting down travel costs.

"To say that distance might be a reason is ridiculous," she said. "We drive an hour to our conference matches, sometimes twice a week. It's too big of an event to go halfway on."

Big hitter out: Naperville Central will likely be without outside hitter Meghan Bray for at least this week. Bray pulled a muscle in her arm from over-use right around the Wheaton Classic last month. In overcompensating for the injury, the capsule of her right shoulder tightened up. By halfway through last Saturday's match against Joliet Catholic she couldn't lift her arm. Bray will undergo strengthening exercises only after she is pain-free.

"The good news is it's nothing serious, but it's bad news because of the timing," said Isaacson, whose team plays Naperville North tonight and goes to Glenbard East's Autumnfest this weekend.

In Bray's absence senior Kelly Farrell moves into a lineup dominated by outsides Bray and Emily McGee. It's slight deja vu for Naperville Central, which lost setter Megan McMahon for a spell last year with an appendectomy. Current setter Kelsey Hoey stepped in then and the team went 11-2.

"If everybody else does their job, we're still OK," Isaacson said. "We have a tendency to rely on our left side. Maybe now we'll be more balanced."

Round 2 tonight: Isaacson was diplomatic last month in saying that the DuPage Valley Conference "was anybody's conference." In reality it's a two-horse race with undefeated conference leader Naperville North hosting Naperville Central tonight. North won a three-gamer at Central last month.

Glenbard East is the only other team to win as much as a game against either team since in conference.

"We're focusing on one match at a time, not overlooking teams," said Naperville North coach Jennifer Urban. "Central is always a fundamentally strong volleyball team. They play with a lot of emotion and don't make a lot of mistakes."

Naperville Central rebounded from its defeat to Naperville North to take second at the Wheaton Classic, and then third at the Mizuno Cup.

"We're a better team than we were the first time around," Isaacson said, "but we understand that both teams are better. We've put ourselves in bigger matches. You're always more prepared when you play those."

State preview?: This weekend's Autumnfest could be a harbinger of what the Class 4A finals look like. Top seed Benet, Mother McAuley and St. Charles East all look like strong contenders to be three of the four semifinalists at Redbird Arena. Then there's defending state champion Naperville Central, one of only four teams to take Benet to three games this year. Toss in Class 3A title contenders Joliet Catholic and Lemont and you have a loaded field at Glenbard East.

"It's great to see this kind of competition this late in the year," Benet coach Brad Baker said. "You get to see where everybody is."