Pancratz doles out major assists on Carthage court
Two years ago, Drewann Pancratz finished her volleyball career at Schaumburg as the school's all-time leader in setting assists.
Now she's giving a major assist to one of the top Division III women's volleyball programs in the nation.
The Carthage College team has started the season 11-1 and is ranked No. 7 with Pancratz running a 5-1 offense.
One of her top targets with 118 kills is former Hersey standout Lauren Dembkowski. Pancratz and Dembkowski played together for two seasons with the Sky High Volleyball Club and were roommates at Carthage as freshmen.
They are hoping to help lead the Lady Reds to another conference title and an appearance in the NCAA Division III finals.
"We know everyone is always going to bring their best game against us," said Pancratz, also a basketball player for Carthage. "We have a big target on our back, especially in our conference. We always have to come ready to play."
Carthage (11-1, 2-0) swept CCIW opponent Augustana College to go 2-0.
With the win, Carthage extended its CCIW record to 39-straight regular-season conference victories. The Lady Reds' last conference defeat came against Augustana on Oct. 3, 2003 in Rock Island.
Pancratz' mother, Jeanette, is the Schaumburg girls volleyball coach and one of the winningest in the state with 676 victories. Drewann starred for the Saxons for four seasons.
"The level of play is much different from high school," said Drewann, who was the 2007 Daily Herald Cook County girls volleyball all-area honorary captain. "All the girls have so much more experience playing the game. It's up another level.
Also on the Carthage roster are two of Pancratz's former high school teammates, Lindsey Pearson and Sarah McGinn, along with Katie Lundgren (Stevenson).
The junior varsity at Carthage included two more former Mid-Suburban League players - Katie Stensland (Rolling Meadows) and Krystina Leazer (Elk Grove).
Last season, while running a 5-2 offense, Pancratz racked up 366 assists.
This season, she is the lone setter for veteran coach Leanne Ulmer, who won a combined 326 matches as the former Stevenson High School girls and boys volleyball coach.
"Personally, I like running a 5-1," Drewann said. "I love to play the game and this means I am playing all the time."
Cheerleading
Twins Amanda and Christina Schweinebraten (Conant) of Illinois State University, members of the coed cheerleading red squad, participated in the football home opener at Hancock Stadium on Saturday, September 19th against Austin Peay University. The next day they joined with the Illinois State Band to perform in a halftime show during the Bears-Pittsburgh Steelers game at Soldier Field.
Football
Carthage's Evan Jones was named a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) player of the week. Jones (Grayslake), a junior quarterback, completed 40 of 53 passes for 446 yards and 4 touchdowns in Carthage's 50-34 home win over Lakeland on Saturday at Art Keller Field. Jones broke his own school and Art Keller Field record with his 446 passing yards, topping his previous mark of 428. His 468 total yards were also school and Art Keller Field records, which Jones had also previously held. Jones' 40 completions also topped his previous school record. Jones is an exercise and sport science major.
• For the year at Carthage, middle linebacker Joe Busse (Fremd) has 11 solo tackles and 7 assists. Safety Brian Hipchen (Fremd 2008) has 13 solo tackles, 7 assisted tackles and 3 interceptions. Running back Jake Smith (Fremd) has 30 rushes for 91 yds and 11 pass receptions for 87 yards and 1 TD. Receiver Jeff Koeneman (Fremd) has caught 25 pass receptions for 275 yards and 7 rushes for 43 yards and 5 touchdowns. Mike Koeneman (Fremd) has 11 receptions for 96 yards and 1 touchdown.
Men's soccer
Central College junior forward Brett McKenzie (Antioch) scored the only goal the Dutch needed in the 10th minute of a 1-0 men's soccer victory at Monmouth College on Wednesday. It was Central's fourth 1-0 game, including 2 wins and 2 losses, in its last five outings. McKenzie has earned two varsity letters and entered this season with 17 goals, 6 assists, 123 shots, 57 shots on goal and 8 game-winning goals.
Women's volleyball
North Central College, which has won 13 of 14 matches this season, received 12 kills from Crystal Wright (Lake Zurich) when the Cardinals defeated Millikin 25-21, 25-25-20, 25-14 in a CCIW match.
Women's golf
Senior Katy Mascheri (Hersey) of Augustana took 21st place with rounds of 88 and 94 and a total of 182 in the Blue and Gold invite.
Softball
Jim Goranson of the Illinois Bash Softball Association is hosting a tournament at the Elgin Sports Complex, Oct. 3 and 4, and is having a "slightly-used" softball equipment drive. The organization is asking that all team's players and managers bring any slightly used softball equipment to the tournament. In conjunction with the Bulls-Sox Academy, the Bash will collect the donations for distribution to inner city kids in need of equipment.
There will be collection boxes on the grounds. The equipment goes to Chicago's Inner City Youth Baseball/Softball League. This program is funded primarily by White Sox Charities.
The Bash is also hosting a unique college coach camp on Friday, Oct. 2, in Elgin from 4-10 p.m. The camp is to provide an opportunity for softball players to receive instruction and interact with college coaches.
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