Cary-Grove, Glenbrook South share similarities

NORMAL - In many ways, the girls volleyball teams from Cary-Grove and Glenbrook South mirror each other.

They both have Division I talents at the net.

They both have Division I setters.

They both have lofty records.

They have players who know each other well.

Neither has been to an IHSA Final Four.

That's about where the differences end, though, because after Friday night one will be playing for a Class 4A state championship, while the other will hope to escape Redbird Arena with a win and the third-place trophy.

"Our teams are extremely similar," said Glenbrook South coach Katie Hoover, in her third season as the Titans' head coach. "We're trying to figure out how we would beat ourselves."

The strength of each team is with the quarterback and at the net. Glenbrook South setter Colleen Brennan, a 5-foot-9 senior who is headed to the Ivy League and Columbia, has over 800 assists this season while her counterpart, Cary-Grove senior Abbey Heredia (Jacksonville State) has registered 829 assists.

"Colleen can really distribute the ball and we have a real strong float serve," Hoover said.

As powerful as the Trojans (34-4) are, so too is Glenbrook South (36-4), which has one of the top players in the state in 6-foot-4 junior Ellen Chapman, who is committed to Wisconsin. She has 431 kills this season for the Titans, whose only losses are to Marist, Sandburg, Naperville North, and Final Four qualifier Lyons Township.

Brennan and Chapman are far from Glenbrook South's only weapons. Emani Sims, a 5-11 middle who is headed to Miami (Fla.) has 215 kills and 5-9 senior outside Elise Cregg has 178. Senior middle Meredith Nuber has 131 kills.

"Ellen Chapman is in a league of her own, but (Sims) might be one of the best leapers I've ever seen," said Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis.

Cary-Grove will counter Glenbrook South's power with power. Trojans' 6-foot junior outside Kelly Lamberti has 373 kills on the season, while 5-9 senior outside Kayla Klinger has 191. C-G would appear to be a bit more balanced with senior middle Colleen Hargrove (143 kills) and 6-foot sophomore middle Ashley Rosch (153 kills) also providing some firepower. Add in 112 kills from Heredia and 84 more from junior setter Colleen Smith and it tells you the Trojans can score in many ways. Throw in the fact it has several accurate jump servers and it's apparent why Cary-Grove hast lost to only one Illinois team (Hampshire) this season. Lamberti has 95 aces for the season, Klinger 46 and Smith 40 for a team that has 273 unreturnable offerings this year.

"We haven't run across a team with that many jump servers all year," Hoover said. "We'll have to be prepared for that."

The other known factor is between Chapman, Lamberti and Smith, who were teammates on the Sky High Club team that won the AAU 16U Open National Championship this past club season (see related story).

Langanis knows if all things are clicking, her team could come home a state champion.

"If we can run our offense, we can be pretty powerful," she said. "We just have to make sure we stay aggressive, and consistent and maintain ball control on defense. We're just going in as it's just another match and it's one point at a time. We have to make sure we stay focused. We want to enjoy the moment but we can't get too caught up in what's going on."

Hoover, a Glenbrook South grad who played her college volleyball at Division III Wittenburg University in Ohio, is more than confident her team won't be caught up in the euphoria of the state tournament.

"We have a great combination of talented players who have a lot of experience and who have put in a lot of hard work at practice," she said. "We have girls who have been to national tournaments and who have been in tight spots. We have high expectations and we work hard to achieve our goals.

"We're just trying to keep things steady and normal for the kids. It's an amazing opportunity and the whole experience has been great so far."

That's something Langanis definitely agrees with.

"It's a fantastic experience," said the 15th-year coach who went over 400 career wins this season. "We're so supported by the community and the faculty and our students that at times the girls are overwhelmed. Football and basketball might be more used to this but this is something these girls have never experienced."

Cary-Grove (34-4)

Conference: Fox Valley (Valley Division)

Head coach:

Captains: Abbey Heredia, Kayla Klinger

Road to Redbird: Defeated Dundee-Crown, Barrington to win Barrington regional; South Elgin and Huntley to win Huntley sectional; St. Charles East to win St. Charles East supersectional.

State tournament history: First apperance

The quote: Langanis: "We have to stay focused. We have to enjoy the moment but we also have to make sure we don't get too caught up in what's happening."

Glenbrook South (36-4)

Conference: Central Suburban

Head coach: Katie Hoover (2nd year, 62-15)

Captains: Colleen Brennan, Elise Cregg

Road to Redbird: Defeated Von Steuben and Maine South to win Glenbrook South regional; New Trier and Evanston to win Evanston sectional; Lake Zurich to win Libertyville supersectional.

State tournament history: 2nd appearance (lost to Normal in 2002 Class AA quarterfinals).

The quote: Hoover: "Our teams are extremely similar. We're trying to figure out how to beat ourselves."

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