Scouting DuPage County girls volleyball
Class 4A Romeoville sectional
When and who: Today, 6 p.m. semifinal (No. 1 Benet vs No. 4 Waubonsie Valley) and 7 p.m. semifinal (No. 2 Hinsdale Central vs. No. 3 Hinsdale South); Championship: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Advancement: Normal Community West supersectional on Saturday at 6 p.m.: Winner of the Romeoville sectional vs winner of the Pekin sectional (Minooka vs. Quincy and Belleville West vs. Edwardsville).
Inside Benet vs. Waubonsie Valley: Both teams are playing their best volleyball of the season, Benet (31-6) winners of 11 straight and 15 of its last 16, Waubonsie (27-10) 12-2 over its last 14 matches. Waubonsie is in its first sectional since 2006, the last time two-time defending sectional champion Benet did not advance to at least the sectional final. Benet swept three matches with Waubonsie this year, only one requiring three games, the last meeting Sept. 18. Waubonsie's go-to outside Martha Stewart put down 308 kills during the regular season, and 13 in the Warriors' regional final win over Neuqua. Seniors Ally Simmons (middle), Jill Galovic (libero) and Meagan Mooney (setter) make for a veteran Waubonsie group. Benet junior Jenna Jendryk has been on fire of late, smashing 9 kills in the regional final. Outsides Lara Ontko and Alyson Farm and middle Meghan Haggerty make up a big, physical Redwings lineup with plenty of firepower.
Coaches keys: Waubonsie coach Kristen Stuart and the Warriors can relish the pressure-free role of underdogs. For Benet, on the other hand, it's been a return-trip-to-Redbird Arena-or-bust mindset since Day 1. “We know we're the underdogs, but that's a fun spot to be in,” Stuart said. “We can go in with no pressure and play as hard as we can. We're confident in our chances but at the same time we know we have to play at a high level.” In fact, Stuart said, the Warriors might need to play error-free volleyball. “We need to have a strong passing game,” she said. “Benet has a variety of strong hitters; we need to be prepared for the long rallies and need to win the emotional points.” Benet coach Brad Baker doesn't want Waubonsie to be able to focus in on one hitter. “We need to continue to be diverse offensively,” he said, “so they can't key in on one hitter.” With three wins over Waubonsie in the bank, it's fair to say the Redwings have a blueprint to beat the Warriors. “We need to be disciplined defensively and follow that gameplan,” Baker said. “We like our chances. I don't think anybody's hiding anything here. We all know each other.”
Inside Hinsdale Central vs. Hinsdale South: The Red Devils (26-11) seek a return to the sectional final, where they lost to Benet last year. Hinsdale South (31-6) is back in sectionals for the first time since 2006, when the Hornets advanced to state. Hinsdale South beat Hinsdale Central in Darien in three games Oct. 21. Hinsdale Central leans heavily on an experienced core of senior libero Jamie Netisingha, defensive-minded senior outside Natalia Skiba and outside Ally Davis. Davis' club coach with Sports Performance is Hinsdale South coach Lisa Martinez. But the Red Devils need their other kids to step up their game to advance. Hinsdale South senior outside Danielle Romeo has enjoyed a sensational senior year, putting down 241 kills during the regular season. Middles Melissa Nava and Morgan Howard can bring it as well.
Coaches keys: Hinsdale Central coach Sheralynn Kellough stressed that her team must ignore the crosstown rivalry twist to the match. “If we can treat them like a nameless, faceless opponent,” she said, “we'll be OK. We're trying to take away the personal side of things.” Kellough said her girls also must play much better defense than the first meeting, when the Red Devils had just 2 blocks. “We have to be a bigger force at the net,” she said. “The biggest thing for us is to play our style and pace.”
Class 4A Bartlett sectional
When and who: Today 6 p.m. semifinal (No. 1 West Chicago vs. No. 4 St. Charles East) and 7 p.m. semifinal (No. 2 York vs. No. 3 Batavia); Championship: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Advancement: Schaumburg supersectional on Saturday at 1 p.m.: Winner of the Bartlett sectional vs winner of the Niles West sectional (Evanston vs. Niles West and New Trier vs. Resurrection).
Inside West Chicago vs. St. Charles East: It's been arguably the best volleyball season in West Chicago school history, and the Wildcats aren't ready for it to end. West Chicago (30-7) won the DuPage Valley Conference for the first time since 1979 and won its first 26 matches. The Wildcats rebounded from a late-season swoon to outlast St. Charles North in three close games to win their first regional since 1997. Now they're after their first-ever sectional crown. Illinois-bound junior outside Julia Conard is a big hitter, but can also go get balls in the back row. Emily Paschke and Kathy Fletcher are as good a combo in the middle as there is in DuPage County. Paschke put down 17 kills in the regional final. It's hard to call St. Charles East (26-10) an underdog. The Saints are in sectionals for the fifth straight year and have won three in a row. Saints junior outside Meghan Niski and libero Maisey Mulvey both possess big-match experience, having started for the 2008 state championship team. Sam Szarmach is another hitter to watch. The Saints are without standout sophomore setter Erienne Barry, who went down with an ACL injury late in the season.
Coaches keys: West Chicago coach Kris Hasty said “the kids are feeling pretty good about themselves again” after winning two regional matches.” She's looking for the positive vibes to carry over. “We have to start off strong,” she said, “and stay strong. We can't let up.” Hasty said her middles must be a factor in containing Niski and Szarmach. “We have to block well like we can,” Hasty said, “and shut them down. Defense wins championships and blocking is a big part of our defense.”
Inside York vs. Batavia: The Dukes (33-4) are back in the sectional for the third straight year, having bowed out to St. Charles East in the sectional final the last two years. Now York is after its first sectional title since 1993. York junior outside Caroline Rose stands just 5-foot-6, but packs a powerful punch with 293 kills and 303 digs during the regular season. Katie Gallagher and Emily Iverson are as good a setter duo as there is, and Morgan Semmelhack and Sam Schrenker are outstanding in the middle. Batavia (32-5) is making only its second-ever appearance in sectionals, first since 2005. Western Carolina recruit Caitlin Piechota put down 15 kills in a regional final win over Geneva, while Marquette-bound junior Mary Nilles does a little bit of everything for the Bulldogs. Batavia beat St. Charles East in the only regular-season match between sectional semifinalists.
Coaches keys: York coach Patty Iverson said her team played “relaxed and comfortable” in two regional matches. She'd be happy with more of the same this week. “The girls seem to be playing the same game they have all year,” she said. “We're not the biggest team but we play with a lot of heart and the girls thrive off each other.” Iverson got a sneak peek of Batavia at the Waubonsie Valley Invite in September. “They have a nice lefty on the outside, which is unusual,” she said. “and a righty swings well on the right side. We're going to have to stay patient. Their setter really moves the ball around. We have to stay and wait where they set it. It's a solid team.”
Class 3A Rosary sectional
When and who: Today 6 p.m. semifinal (No. 1 Joliet Catholic vs. No. 4 Lemont) and 7 p.m. semifinal (No. 2 St. Francis vs. No. 3 Rosary); Championship: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Advancement: Ottawa supersectional on Saturday at 6 p.m.: Winner of the Rosary sectional vs winner of the La Salle-Peru sectional (Rock Island vs. Morris and Metamora vs. Washington).
Inside St. Francis vs. Rosary: These two are no strangers. St. Francis (30-7) beat Rosary twice during the regular season, and ousted the Royals in the 2007 and 2008 sectional finals. St. Francis comes in after winning its 21st straight regional title. Notre Dame-bound outside Meg Vonderhaar is the Spartans' go-to hitter, but St. Francis likes to get junior middle Daiva Wise involved as well. Both put down 9 kills in the regional final win over Queen of Peace. Steady senior Kelly Reinke runs the 5-1 offense and libero Gina Madonia is a top-notch defender and server. Rosary (26-10) has won 10 straight regional titles, but its last sectional crown came in 1978. Junior outside Mia Wegman and senior libero Haley Norris are Royals to watch.
Coaches keys: Spartans coach Peg Kopec stressed that serve receive is important to get things started regardless of the opponent. “It gives our offense a chance to get going,” she said. “It's going to be loud in their gym so our communication skills will be important.” Rosary coach Lisa Kasper is hoping for a reversal of fortunes from 2007, when the Royals beat St. Francis twice during the conference season only to watch the Spartans turn the tables in sectionals. “Hopefully the third time will be the charm,” Kasper said. “We are going to have to step up our game a lot. We do have a deeper bench this time.” Looming Thursday is another Joliet Catholic-St. Francis showdown. The two schools have met in the playoffs the last four years, splitting four matches, and have combined for three state championships and a state runner-up finish in that time frame. “This sectional is a big deal,” Kopec said, “one of the best in the state.”
Class 2A Chicago Latin sectional
When and who: Today 6 p.m. semifinal (No. 1 Woodlands Academy vs. No. 2 Immaculate Conception) and 7 p.m. semifinal (No. 6 Chicago Collins vs. No. 1 Chicago Latin); Championship: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Advancement: Seneca supersectional on Saturday at 7 p.m.: Winner of the Chicago Latin sectional vs winner of the Plano sectional (Peotone vs. Westmont and Chicago Christian vs. Herscher).
Inside Immaculate Conception vs. Woodlands: The Knights (22-14) are back in sectionals for the fifth straight year. IC won the sectional in 2007 and 2008, then lost to Westmont in the final last year. This year, though, Westmont was shipped west to the Plano sectional with defending 2A state runner-up Chicago Christian. A young IC team that starts just two seniors (Coleen Manion and Judy Morris) appears to be peaking at the right time. The Knights turned the tables on Timothy Christian in the regional final, avenging an early-season loss with a three-game win. IC beat Latin in a sectional semifinal last year don't be surprised if the two hook up again on Thursday. “We're starting to come together,” IC coach Jean Field said. “I knew at the beginning of the year it would take a while. I told the girls at the beginning of the year it's where you are at the end of the year that counts.”