Injury forces quick Neuqua Valley changes
Sam Skryd went up for a jump serve, just like she has thousands of times before.
The landing could alter Neuqua Valley's season.
The Wildcats senior setter was originally diagnosed with a sprained MCL in her left knee suffered Friday night at the Mizuno Cup. An MRI Monday morning, though, revealed a complete ligament tear. Recovery time for the Baylor recruit is six months.
"She's pretty irreplaceable," Neuqua coach Kelly Simon said, "but we're going to try our best."
Indeed, the timing of the injury is far less than ideal. The postseason starts in two weeks. Neuqua, a No. 5 sectional seed, has its sights set on the school's first-ever regional title.
With Skryd out, senior Beth Blackman moves from right-side to setter in the 5-1 offense. Junior Brigid Campbell takes Blackman's place and Alison Strain moves into the back row.
Neuqua has responded well in Skryd's absence so far, taking fifth at the Mizuno Cup - it's best-ever finish.
"Beth has been a setter in club," Simon said, "and she did a real nice job on Friday night and Saturday. It's just a different style and we haven't had a whole lot of time to re-connect to Beth's style in practice.
"Beth's biggest adjustment is she has a lot of weight to carry, to take the next giant step and run the floor. She's perfectly capable, but we have to allow her that time to make that mental and physical adjustment."
Neuqua not only loses Skryd's setting. She also boasts a strong jump serve and is a leader in digs. Blackman was among the team leaders in kills at right-side.
"We're going to have to suck it up and press forward," Simon said.
Pre-postseason test: With the playoffs right around the corner, St. Francis and Benet will get their last big tune-up this weekend.
No. 1 St. Francis (24-2) is at Maine West's Pumpkin Tournament. The field includes a pair of Class 4A state title contenders in Lyons Township and Sandburg. Sandburg handed St. Francis its only loss to an in-state opponent at the Asics Challenge.
No. 2 Benet (24-2), coming off a championship at its own Benet Invite, takes aim at Glenbard East's Autumnfest this weekend. A loaded field includes defending Class 3A state champion and 3A favorite Joliet Catholic, Class 4A state champion St. Charles East as well as Crystal Lake South, Lemont and Mother McAuley.
"It definitely lets you know what you need to work on before the state playoffs," Benet coach Brad Baker said. "After this you get a week and a half to work out the last-minute kinks."
If Benet advances through Friday pool play unscathed, it could have to through Mother McAuley, St. Charles East and Joliet Catholic in succession to win it.
The Redwings have plenty of history with all three.
Benet beat McAuley in the 4A state semifinals last year before losing to St. Charles East in the championship. Joliet Catholic handed Benet its only loss of the regular season last year in the Autumnfest semifinals, and beat the Redwings in conference last month.
"It's more important that we know we're playing quality opponents. The fact that we have a history with these teams just adds to it," Baker said. "We're definitely headed in the right direction. We feel as a team that we're making improvements every week."
Young Dukes making strides: No team endured a more brutal early-season schedule than No. 8 York. The Dukes (20-8), who have just three seniors on their roster, played a who's who in Class 4A in September - Glenbrook South, Benet, Sandburg and Hinsdale Central. Add in two matches with Lyons Township. York went winless in those matches and was 2-5 after a Sept. 8 three-set loss to Hinsdale Central.
"In all those matches except Lyons we had a chance to win," York coach Patty Iverson said. "We felt we dropped the ball. If we wanted to play with those teams we had to change a couple things."
Improving team blocking, and learning various defensive strategies for different teams, was a gradual process. The Dukes have also served much more to their potential of late.
Freshman opposite Melissa Deatsch, pulled up to the varsity two weeks ago, has been a nice addition. Senior Lauren Zerante has made a successful transition from middle to outside. Sophomore Morgan Semmelhack, a returning starter, brings a positive attitude every day.
And fellow sophomore Caroline Rose had 4 critical blocks in York's two-set win over No. 5 Hinsdale Central in the Benet Invite semifinals. The Dukes went on to lose to Benet in three in the final.
Add it up and the Dukes are 7-1 in their last eight matches. Don't be surprised if York, seeded No. 3 in the 4A Geneva sectional, makes another run to the sectional final.
"We're really starting to jell," Iverson said. "Everybody is picking up their game."