Cary-Grove rolls over Huntley for its 30th straight win

Little seems to rattle the Cary-Grove girls volleyball team these days, the Huntley defense included.

The Red Raiders entered Tuesday's Fox Valley Conference Valley Division opener with a record of 8-1, led by junior Amy Dion, the 2009 area digs leader.

Though Huntley put up a good fight in the second game of the rematch between programs that met last season for a sectional title, the Trojans demonstrated their all-around offensive might to complete a 25-12, 25-21 victory in Cary.

Senior Kelly Lamberti led the balanced Trojans with 8 kills, while senior right side hitter Allison Whimpey and junior middle Ashley Rosch added 6 kills apiece for the reigning Class 4A champions, who won their 30th straight match spanning two seasons.

"We just had to stay focused and go to the basics in the second game because (Dion) was everywhere," said Cary-Grove setter Colleen Smith, who finished with 20 assists. "She's really good, so it was hard to put the ball away. But we fought through it, found our holes and scored our points, so it was huge."

Cary-Grove (14-0, 1-0) was never challenged in Game 1. The Trojans jumped to a 6-0 lead, powered by an ace from Smith and kills by Whimpey and Rosch. Whimpey's putdown of a 2-ball made it 10-3. The Huntley offense managed only 3 straight kills in Game 1.

"I was really happy with how we jumped out in Game 1," Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis said. "We were so aggressive and assertive. I think we put Huntley on their heels. Huntley is a talented team, and in Game 2 they started digging in and put some pressure on us with their tough defense."

Game 2 featured seven ties and three lead changes. Huntley tied the game 4-4 when junior Emily McGran and sophomore Hailey Vitacco combined for a block against Rosch, and the Red Raiders took an 11-8 lead after a big spike from junior middle Jaina Jackson.

"We knew that the block had to be there and our defense had to be there," Dion said. "We knew if we played our best, we had a shot at them and that's what we showed in the second game."

Trailing by 3 points, the Trojans gained a side out when Lamberti crushed a ball to the back left corner. Cary-Grove subsequently scored 5 straight points on the serve of Smith (3 aces), capped by a smart tip from Whimpey over a double block on the outside. The Red Raiders had nearly won the point earlier on a block by Jackson.

Huntley (8-2, 0-1) took its last lead, 16-15, on a kill by McGran, but Lamberti responded with a big swing from the right side. She then staked the Trojans to the lead for good with an ace. The Red Raiders crept within 21-20, thanks to consecutive aces by sophomore Nicole Levra, but Melanie Jereb's kill gave the Trojans breathing room and Mallory Wilczynski's spike off Dion's fingertips brought the Trojans to match point.

Lamberti scored the clincher when she blocked Sam Boesch's attempt from the back row. In the end, the defending champs simply had too many weapons for Huntley, which was led in kills by Boesch (5) and Ashley Smith (3).

"In my 15 years, they're one of the best teams I've seen play in this area," Huntley coach Michelle Jakubowski said of the Trojans. "I went to the first match between Benet - which is supposed to be the best team in the state - and St. Charles East. (Cary-Grove) by far runs a better offense. For us to play with them the second game, I think, shows that we can play with anybody and beat some of the other teams around here.

"We're guaranteed to get them one more shot, and if we're lucky enough to get them a third time (in the playoffs), we'll keep trying."

Cary-Grove will visit Huntley on Oct. 5.