Dinner's on Langanis as Hampshire stuns No. 2 Cary-Grove
Dinner was on Cary-Grove girls volleyball coach Patty Langanis.
Langanis was taking Hampshire coach and Cary-Grove graduate Karen Whitehouse out to eat Thursday night after Whitehouse's Whip-Purs topped the Trojans 25-22, 26-24 in nonconference action at Hampshire.
"I told her (before the match) I'm not even bringing my wallet," Langanis joked.
Whitehouse graduated from Cary-Grove in 1999 and played for Langanis. This was the first time Whitehouse hosted Langanis and the Trojans. It was the second time the teams played this season. C-G beat Hampshire in three games at the Jacobs tournament early in the season.
"It was fun," said Whitehouse, an outside hitter during her time in Cary. "Fortunately we had the homecourt advantage tonight."
Game 1 went back and forth as neither team led by more than 3 points. A Kara Wehrs block gave the Whip-Purs (16-2) a 15-12 lead. The Trojans (16-2), ranked second by the Daily Herald, took a 21-18 lead on a Abbey Heredia kill. Amy Wehrs had 2 kills to help Hampshire take a 24-22 lead and delivered an ace on game point.
"To beat a top (Class 4A) school when we're a 3A school, it's an amazing feeling," said Amy Wehrs, who helped the Whips knock off defending 3A state runner-up Burlington Central on Wednesday.
"To win it for (coach Whitehouse) just puts the cherry on top."
Cary-Grove jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the second game, but then started having trouble serving and serve receiving. Hampshire outscored the Trojans 18-7 to take a 20-15 lead. A service error gave the Whip-Purs match point at 24-21. C-G fought off three match points to tie the match at 24-24. A close call on the sideline went Hampshire's way to give the Whip-Purs a fourth match point. They converted as Leign-Ann Libby's serve was unable to be controlled by the Trojans.
"Hampshire definitely was serving tough and our serve receive broke down," Langanis said. "Our own serving, which has usually carried us most of the season, broke down."
Heredia, the Trojans' setter, led the team with 6 kills and 12 assists. C-G had 8 service errors in the match.
The win caps two emotional days for the Whip-Purs, beating rival Burlington Central on Wednesday and one of the top Class 4A teams in Cary-Grove on Thursday.
"I think (Wednesday's win) carried over a lot," Whitehouse said. "I was a little nervous. Sometimes you have a great win like (Wednesday) night and it's hard to come in and step up for another big match."
Amy Wehrs had 10 kills to led Hampshire. Kara Wehrs finished with 7 kills, 11 assists and 2 blocks. Libby added 13 assists.