They won't be friends during the match

NORMAL - You'll have to excuse three of the main players of Friday night's Class 4A girls volleyball semifinal match between Cary-Grove and Glenbrook South if they seem a little awkward when they look across the Redbird Arena court at each other.

Cary-Grove juniors Kelly Lamberti and Colleen Smith, and Glenbrook South junior Ellen Chapman were teammates in the Sky High 16 Black club team that won the 16U Open Championship at this past summer's Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Fla.

"It's going to be real weird," said the 6-foot-4 Chapman, who is committed to Wisconsin. "I'm so used to being on their side of the court. I'll be talking to them before and after the game but during the game I'll just be focused on doing what I have to do for us to win."

While Smith acknowledges the friendship with Chapman it will mean little come game time.

"We're really good friends and we always hang out," said Smith, who has verballed to Indiana. "She's a really good player and we know we'll have to focus on her, block her and dig her. We have to look at her as just another player and not a friend. When we step on that court we're enemies."

Lamberti, who is still mulling her college choice, says it will all be about focus and not playing against Chapman.

"It's going to be different but I think we'll be able to keep that mindset that we just have to put all our energy into this game," she said.

Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis isn't worried about the sidebar of club teammates facing each other on high school's big stage.

"They have the ability to turn it on and off," she said. "They'll be friends after the game but you'll see that competitive edge. They won't even know each other during the game."

Finally: Cary-Grove's trip to state completes the wheel for District 155 schools. Crystal Lake South, Prairie Ridge and Crystal Lake Central have all made state final trips in the past, with CL Central winning the 2007 championship. South has finished second twice (1991, 1995) and Prairie Ridge has two runner-up trophies (2004, 2005). South also finished third in 1992 and fourth in 1993.

In it to win it: Cary-Grove junior Colleen Smith says there's little point in playing in Redbird Arena if you're not going to come home with the big trophy. "We've worked so hard this year and we're really busted our butts," she said. "It's awesome we finally made it and now that we're there we have to take that next step and win it." Junior Kelly Lamberti agrees. "We've been working so hard in practice and it's so satisfying to make it," she said. "We know our team can go all the way but we know all the teams there are really good."

Onward: Crystal Lake Central coach Doug Blundy, whose 748 career wins rank No. 7 on Illinois' all-time list, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer roughly three years ago. It's a treatable disease that attacks the white blood cells. But even after several rounds of chemotherapy, Blundy, now in his 26th year, says he's not done coaching yet.

"As long as my health allows it, I want to keep coaching," said Blundy, also the school's athletic director. "Volleyball helps me."