Lang gets Barrington on winning track
After an 0-7 start a year ago, Barrington's girls volleyball team was in no mood for a repeat.
After a couple of tough losses to area power Stevenson and state power Marist, the Fillies made sure they got their first win much earlier this time around with a 29-27, 25-18 victory over a scrappy visiting Elk Grove team and first-year coach Stephanie Kezios.
Leading the way for the Fillies (1-2) was Florida Atlantic recruit Madison Lang, who enjoyed one of the finest varsity matches of her three-year varsity career.
The 6-foot-2 senior setter-outside hitter clicked for a match-high 9 kills along with 15 assists, 6 blocks and 2 aces as the Fillies rallied from game point in Game 1 on a kill by Lang which made it 25-25.
"Madison was very much the definition of a senior leader in this match," said Fillies coach Chris Bronke, who had Lang playing an outside hitter for the first time in her career. "She was both a physical and mental engine. When we needed some emotional help, she was there for our younger players. When we needed a physical point, she was there to get us a kill."
Lang's ace gave the Fillies game point at 26-25 but Elk Grove refused to quit and it wasn't before sophomore Julia Thompson put down a quick set from Lang that the hosts were able to celebrate a hard-fought 29-27 triumph.
In Game 2, the Fillies rallied from a 12-9 deficit and used 4 service points from senior Meagan Combs to secure a 21-16 lead. Junior Joy Johnson put down the Fillies' final 2 points for the 25-18 win.
"This was by far Madison's best match in her time here," Bronke added. "And that was Emily Casaletto's first varsity start. She played a little here and there in our first two matches, but all she did in this match was prove why she made the start. She was great."
Casaletto (8 assists), a freshman setter, is one of 10 underclassmen on the roster.
"We're a young team so it's nice to get a win under out belt," said Lang, who was complemented by Johnson's 8 kills and 5 from sophomore Peyton Lang, Madison's sister. "Our young players now feel like, 'Yeah, we're a good team,' and this will get their confidence up."
"I told the girls the first one is always the hardest to get," Bronke said. "We got over the hump and hopefully it's a sign of good things to come.
"It wasn't necessarily the prettiest volleyball. In fact, we may have played a little better in our first two matches. But when the games were on the line, we pulled them out."
Senior Jessica Condon handed out 22 assists for Elk Grove (0-1) while sophomore Diamond Boyd (6 kills), senior Leah Miller (5) and senior Kristen Cetkovic (5) led the offense. Jessica Balzano and Cetkovic each had 6 digs for the Grens.
"I think coach was very happy to get the first one out of the way," said Miller, who also served 3 aces and had a block. "We had a lot of adrenaline for the first game. We'll be much more focused now when we start conference on Thursday (home vs. Wheeling).
Kezios felt nerves caught up wit her team in Game 2 and the passing broke down.
"We'll be at it at 5:45 a.m. (today in the gym) ready to work on things," she said. "I was disappointed we didn't have a match before this one. So I told the girls we just wanted to establish some consistency before we started being aggressive. The girls were really excited for Game 1 and made a nice comeback at the end."
The Fillies come back at home on Wednesday to open MSL West play with Palatine.
"This match was different in that we were not making errors," Bronke said. "We had 3 service errors and 5 hitting errors. That will keep you in a lot of matches."
Hersey d. Conant: Kelsey Haas (7 kills), Kristen Pedersen (5), Alexa Stedman (4) and Christine Solans (3) led the Huskies' attack in a 25-11, 25-13 victory as sophomore setter Abby Fesl handed out 19 assists from 51-of-51 setting.
"Abby was amazing," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill, who picked up career win No. 718. "She ran the offense with so much ease. She did a great job."
Jenni Mueller (12 digs), Danielle Perkins (11), Solans (9) and Taylor (6) led Hersey (1-1) in the backcourt.
Palatine d. Wheeling: Jacksonville State recruit Kaley Sierawski put down 9 kills as the Pirates posted a 26-24, 25-24 triumph to improve to 2-0. Kelsey Batz added 4 kills for the winners while teammate Joanne Jablonski had 3 kills against the Wildcats (1-1).
Morgan Park d. Christian Liberty: Morgan Park prevailed 25-14, 25-17 over the host Chargers (2-1).
Fremd d. Prospect: Fremd opened its season with a three-game victory over the Knights (0-2).
Girls golf
Barrington wins tri meet: Led by Kelly Muskat's 38, Barrington scored a 178 to top Conant (190) and Schaumburg (229) at the Schaumburg Golf Club.
Casey Hahn added a 43 for the Fillies followed by Laura Plarz (46) and Sammy Carman (51).
"So far we seem to be rolling along pretty well," Muskat said. "I did not putt very well at all but hit enough good shots to get me my score."
The Fillies take on Hersey and Rolling Meadows on Thursday at Makray Memorial in Barrington . Muskat will square off against Hersey's Megan Rogowski. The two were both qualifiers in last year's state girls basketball 3-point showdown at Redbird Arena.