Crystal Lake Central has a tall task
NORMAL - The last time coach Doug Blundy and the Crystal Lake Central girls volleyball team walked off the Redbird Arena floor, they did so with the Class 3A state championship trophy in tow.
That was in 2007, when the Tigers won the first Class 3A state title in the 4-class system. Now they're back at Redbird, but to capture the big prize again they'll have to knock off one of the top 10 teams in the country, defending 3A champ Joliet Catholic Academy.
"(One newspaper) said the only way (JCA) won't win it is if they all get the flu," said Blundy. "I don't quite buy into that. I do think they're the best team in the state but the best team doesn't always win it. If we can keep a high level of energy I think we can beat them. They're very good. This is a battle of the last two state champs."
While the Angels bring a 39-1 record to Redbird (39-3 last year), CL Central has a lofty 37-3 mark and has won 31 straight matches since losing to Prairie Ridge on Sept. 10. CLC was 2-2 after 4 matches this season.
"It's a pretty close-knit group," said Blundy, now in his 26th year with a 748-181 career record. "When they play as a team they're pretty good. Two years ago we had 42 wins, which is the most you can get. This has been our second best."
The Tigers are led by 6-foot-1 middle Amelia Anderson, who has racked up 306 kills this season. Senior 6-1 middle Lindsay Anderson has 169 put-downs, as well as 69 aces.
Blundy runs a 9-girl rotation and points to the defensive play of 5-3 senior libero Julie Jeziorowski and 5-10 junior setter Lindsay Friel as being keys as well.
Joliet Catholic has won 44 straight matches against Illinois high schools. The Angels' only loss this season is to national power Assumption of Louisville, Ky., in a 3-game marathon at the ASICS Challenge.
The Angels, coached by 10th-year mentor Christine Schiebe (316-70-9), are led on the floor by 5-8 senior outside Annemarie Hickey (367 kills) and senior setter Jennifer Murphy (884 assists). Hickey is committed to Wisconsin. Murphy's older sister, Kelly, is a former Gatorade National Player of the Year who now plays at Florida.