MSL girls volleyball championship
Schaumburg (21-12, 9-1) at Hersey (24-5, 10-0)
When: 7 p.m. today, all-conference awards at 6:25 p.m.
Where: Ken Carter Gymnasium, Hersey High School
2009 MSL title match: Hersey d. Fremd 25-23, 25-19
This year's meeting: Hersey d. Schaumburg in the Hersey Invite 25-21, 25-19
Schaumburg roster: Whitney Grossman (5-6 Jr. OH), Sadie Murphy (5-2 Sr. L), Natasha Senecal (5-1 Sr. L), Rebecca Thompson (5-7 Sr. OH), Meghan Falsey (6-0 Jr. S), Kelly Koutnik (5-11 So. OH), Sara Travis (5-10 Sr. MB-OP), Bria Hailey (5-9 Jr. MB), Ashlee Norris (5-11 Sr. S-OP), Emily Young (6-2 Sr. S-OP), Kelly Skorczewski (6-0 Jr. MB), Alyssa Saklak (5-11 Jr. OH)
Hersey roster: Abby Fesl (5-10 So. S), Nicole Havel (5-7 Jr. S), Annie Cerniglia (5-11, Sr. MB), Allison Johnson (5-8 Jr. OH), Taylor Schill (5-6 So. DS), Christine Solans (5-8 Sr. OH), Danielle Perkins (5-4 Sr. DS-L), Kristene Pedersen (6-1 Jr. MB), Kelsey Haas (5-11 Jr. OH), Alexa Stedman (5-11 Sr. MB), Jenni Mueller (5-6 Sr. DS-L), Maggie Hogen (5-10 Jr. RH), Alli Mueller (5-5 So. DS), Anna Mullen-Muir (5-9 So. OH)
Top percentage servers: Taylor Schill (Hersey), Danielle Perkins (Hersey), Sara Travis (Schaumburg)
Setters: Senior Emily Young (Schaumburg) is one of the best in the state. She will play for USC next season. The left-hander is also a top attacker for the Saxons.
Sophomore Abby Fesl has established herself as a top setter in the league. She is playing in her first MSL title match after watching her sisters Megan (Notre Dame) and Annie (Cincinnati) play in the multiple MSL championships.
Top efficiency attackers: Alexa Stedman (Hersey), Kelsey Haas (Hersey), Sara Travis (Schaumburg), Bria Hailey (Schaumburg), Emily Young (Schaumburg), Kristen Pedersen (Hersey)
Top blockers: Sara Travis (Schaumburg), Kristen Pedersen (Hersey)
Top diggers: Jenni Mueller (Hersey), Danielle Perkins (Hersey), Rebecca Thompson (Schaumburg), Natasha Senecal (Schaumburg).
Schaumburg history: Four years ago, coach Jeanette Pancratz's Saxons defeated Hersey in the title game. Daily Herald all-area honorary captain Drewann Pancratz led her mother's team that season and is now playing at Carthage College. Jeanette recently joined an elite group of Illinois coaches who have won 700 matches when she reached the milestone last Friday at the Glenbard East tourney against Wheaton Warrenville South. Jeanette, who coached the Resurrection varsity from 1980 to 1986, has been the Saxons' coach since 1989. In four appearances in the MSL title match, she has never lost. Pancratz's Saxons won three straight from 1991 to 1993 and in 2007.
Hersey history: Coach Nancy Lill is bringing her Huskies to the title match for the eighth consecutive time and 15th since she took over the program in 1988. The Huskies have won seven title matches under Lill, including the last two against Fremd and Conant. Last year's team was led by her daughter Katie, who was the Daily Herald all-area honorary captain and is now studying at Notre Dame. Also on that team was all-area middle blocker Maddie Swan, also a student at Notre Dame. Both will be at today's title match. Nancy Lill is the winningest coach in the MSL with 741 wins in 26 seasons, 23 at Hersey and three at Wheeling.
What they're saying: “This is a really big match and important to us. We've got the home floor so it will be a big crowd and exciting. We must keep working as a team and keep each other up on the court. We have to keep our enthusiasm up all the time. We played some good teams (at the Maine West Pumpkin tournament) so that competition will help us.” Hersey senior Christine Solans.
“I would love a repeat of the championship match (Schaumburg won 25-19, 25-12 on its home floor) that we played with them four years ago. I think this is going to be fun. We were close to them when we played their tournament (one month ago). We are going to have a great mindset and execution.” Schaumburg senior Emily Young.
Coaches corner:
of Hersey: #8220;We respect them. They have a great combination of athleticism, size and obviously a D-I player (Emily Young), who is a force. We've got to keep the ball away from Emily. It's just a matter of playing consistent and great defense. We are really happy to get these kids we have in this element. A lot of them were bench players last year.#8221;Jeanette Pancratz of Schaumburg: #8220;Hersey has the experience of playing in this match. We are going to have to raise up our play. They are a strong team and do not make a lot of errors.#8221;