Scouting postseason girls volleyball / Northwest
Class 4A Stevenson sectional
Semifinals: Today: Match 1 at 6 p.m.: (1) Hersey vs. (5) Mundelein; Match 2 at 7 p.m.; (2) Lake Zurich vs (6) Fremd; Thursday: Winner, Match 1 vs. winner, Match 2 at 7 p.m.
Advancement: Libertyville supersectional Saturday at 1 p.m. vs. champion of the Evanston supersectional.
Hersey (34-3) vs Mundelein (27-9): Two-time defending Mid-Suburban League champion Hersey is seeking a ninth sectional title and first since 2004 under coach Nancy Lill, whose daughter Katie was the MSL East player of the year. The Huskies have defeated the three other teams in the sectional this fall. They stopped Lake Zurich (22-25, 25-21, 26-24) and Mundelein (25-19, 16-25, 25-21) in the championship and semifinals, respectively, of the Hersey Invite. Hersey defeated Fremd in two games for the MSL championship (25-23, 25-19) and at the Lake Park tournament (25-12, 25-18). Coach George Dressen's Mustangs defeated No. 4 Lake Forest 25-17, 25-21 for their regional title. The Mustangs' Brittany Jones and Megan Barron each had 5 kills, while Michelle Parssinen added 3 kills and 5 blocks. Kelsey Sullivan was 45-of-45 setting with 15 assists and 8-of-8 digging. "I know Michelle is a dominant middle." said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. "And they have two nice outsides in Megan and Brittany. That gives them a nice trifecta with those three big guns. And their setter Kelsey, does a nice job. They are a pretty balanced team." The Huskies are led at the net by Lill, Maddie Swan, Jamie Welter, Christina Solans and Kristin Pedersen, while JoAnna Hoffman is the talented setter who runs the show. Libero Becca Haraf keys the back row while Jenni Mueller and Alicia Witte provide depth off the bench. "We went three games with Mundelein in our tournament," Lill said. "We respect their ability. It will be a good match and a fun match."
Fremd (25-11) vs. Lake Zurich (31-6): Lake Zurich defeated Stevenson 25-20, 17-25, 25-18 to capture its first regional championship since 2005. The Bears defeated Fremd twice early this season, both times in Palatine. They won 25-22, 24-26, 15-12 at the Early Bird Classic, then 25-16, 22-25, 25-18 in a nonconference match. Vikings senior outside hitter Colleen Andersen did not play that match because of a wrist injury. She joins Tess Dinterman (9 kills in the regional final vs. Carmel), Alex Messner, Elizabeth Dotson, Jessie Wiedemann and Melanie Arns in the front row, while MSL West Co-Player of the Year Kayla Price runs the offense. Senior Lena Brottman anchors the back row, while Allison Grzelik and Rebecca Bagg are key performers off the bench. Jenn Grunden's match-best 15 kills led Lake Zurich past Stevenson in the Bears' own regional. Brittany Murawski added 10 kills and Alex Karigan had 6 for Lake Zurich. Alexis Hartman (15 assists, 5 kills, 5 assist blocks, 2 solo blocks), Monica Kloep (13 assists), Audrey Bauer (5 blocks) and Amanda Orchard (4 kills) were other key contributors. Despite winning 30-plus matches in each of the previous two seasons, Lake Zurich had not advanced out of the regional. "We are going to have to work hard on defense," said Messner, who put down 7 kills in the Vikings' three-game regional championship win over Carmel. "We have to mix up our shots. It will be fun to play them because of a lot of us know their girls from club." "We know Lake Zurich is going to be aggressive," added Vikings coach Curt Pinley, whose team became the first in school history to win three straight girls volleyball regionals. "They always play well against us and we always play well against them. Matt (Aiello, the Bears coach and former Buffalo Grove volleyball standout) will have them prepared. Hopefully we'll be ready as well."
Class 3A Vernon Hills sectional
When: Today: Match 1 at 6 p.m.: (1) Crystal Lake Central vs. (4) Wauconda; Match 2 at 7 p.m.: (2) St. Viator vs. (3) Prairie Ridge.; Thursday: Winner, Match 1 vs. winner, Match 2 at 7 p.m.
Advancement: Grayslake supersectional on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m. vs. champion of Nazareth Academy (Lyons Township) sectional.
Crystal Lake Central (34-3) vs. Wauconda (23-13): Wauconda captured its first regional championship by outlasting Vernon Hills 25-22, 26-24 at Senn High School in Chicago. Maddie Westman pounded 13 kills for Wauconda (23-13). Bulldogs coach Jonathan Grandt watched his freshman setter Megan Tallman hand out 17 assists while also collecting 3 kills and 2 aces. Erinn Hellweg also played big at the net for Wauconda, recording 5 blocks, and Ali Morrison added 3. Stephanie Olson had 5 kills and was 12-of-12 serving. Michelle Waltenburg posted 9 digs and served 10-for-10. Crystal Lake Central went 11-1 in the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division and shared the title with Prairie Ridge.
St. Viator (26-9-1) vs. Prairie Ridge (27-9): Fox Valley Conference Fox Division co-champion Prairie Ridge posted a 25-8, 25-18 victory over host Antioch in the Class 3A regional. St. Viator is making it second straight sectional appearance. The Lions upset Lake Zurich in a Class 4A regional final last fall and defeated Johnsburg last Saturday for this 3A regional title. Junior Carlyn Clevenger sets the offense, often finding seniors Kelly Travalgio, Mary Calov, Kelly McConnell and Christina Brinkman or classmate Emily Leazer to put down the ball. The Lions, who set a school record for wins, have not faced any of the teams in this regional. "It's going to take aggressive serving," said Lions coach Charlie Curtin about the matchup with Stephanie Otto's Prairie Ridge Wolves. "We need active hands-on defense and a lot of all-around high intensity."
Class 1A Serena sectional
When: Today: Match 1 at 6 p.m.: Morgan Park Academy vs. Newark; Match 2 at 7 p.m.: Christian Liberty Academy vs. Hinkley Big Rock; Thursday: Winner, Match 1 vs. winner, Match 2 at 7 p.m.
Advancement: South Beloit supersectional on Saturday at 7 p.m. vs champion of Eastland (Lanark) sectional
Christian Liberty (16-13) vs. Hinkley Big Rock (25-8-1): Top-seeded Christian Liberty Academy became the school's first sports team to earn an IHSA regional crown when defeated host No. 2 seed North Shore Country Day 25-10, 25-9. Coach Natalie Salsgiver's Chargers went 28-8 a year ago and finished third in the Indian Trail Conference. Chargers seniors Taylor White and Amy Farmer are the only returning starters and co-captains. White, a two-time all-conference selection, led the Chargers with 257 kills in the regular season, followed by Amy Farmer (139), junior Annie Salsgiver (130) and sophomore Carly Baric (91). Sophomore Jayna Rowland (296 assists) and junior Cammie Kott (220 assists) directed the Chargers' 6-2 offense. Junior Holly Swiderek is second on the team with 236 digs behind White (257). Hinkley Big Rock, also a top seed, won its second consecutive regional title, 25-20, 14-25, 25-10 over No. 2 Elgin Westminster Christian (regional host). "They have some good hitters and some good blockers," Salsgiver said. "And they are tall. It was a wonderful experience for us to win the school's first IHSA regional. All our girls stepped up. The girls were very excited. We'll do our best (in the sectional) and see what happens."
- John Leusch