Schaumburg's Pancratz sets up Carthage

A few weeks ago, Carthage junior setter Drewann Pancratz took time out of her busy college schedule to attend the Glenbard East Invite.

It was the weekend her mother Jeanette, the Schaumburg High School girls volleyball coach, joined an elite group of IHSA coaches who have won 700 matches in the sport.

“She deserved it,” said Drewann, whose mother went on to steer Schaumburg to the Mid-Suburban West title for the first time since Drewann led the Saxons to the 2007 MSL title.

With her season now over, Jeanette can now return the favor and watch her daughter play in the upcoming Division III NCAA tournament.

Drewann, who was the Schaumburg setter when her mom collected career win No. 600, has already had quite a season for the Lady Reds.

For the second time this season, she was named College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin's women's volleyball “Player of the Week.”

Drewann was named to the all-tournament team at the Carthage Invitational after averaging 10.81 assists per set over four matches.

Her No. 10 Carthage team (27-7) finished 4-0 to win the event with victories over No. 12 St. Thomas (Minn.), No. 13 Heidelberg, No. 17 Wisconsin-Oshkosh and No. 29 Trinity (Texas). Earlier in the week, Pancratz averaged 10.0 assists per set in a 3-1 win over North Central College. She also earned the “Player of the Week” award on Sept. 21.

Carthage will be hosting the Midwest regional.

“We're excited about that,” Drewann said. “We lost in the regional championship last year. Our goal is definitely making the national tournament this year. Our team thinks it's realistic.

“Most of the girls are my age so hopefully we're more mature this season,” Drewann said. “And we've played our hardest schedule ever. We played a lot of top 10 team, including No. 1 twice.”

Women's soccer

Western Michigan junior Jackie Drees (Hersey) helped the Broncos advance to the Mid-American Conference championship match against Cental Michigan.

Drees, a forward her first two and half seasons, was moved to right back late in the season when the Broncos went five straight games without a loss, including wins in the first two games of the MAC tournament.

Drees scored 2 goals and had 2 assists this season as Western Michigan advanced to the MAC championship game for the first time since 2003.

Senior Kelsey Carmichael (Prospect) has also played a key role. She started in 51 games the last four years, scoring 7 goals and recording 4 assists.

Men's cross country

North Central maintained its grip on the No. 1 spot in the ninth installment of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III National Coaches' Poll.

The Cardinals garnered all eight first place votes, accumulating 280 total points to remain the nation's top squad for the seventh consecutive week.

The Cardinals' Michael Spain (Schaumburg) claimed top individual honors in the 8,000-meter race (24:15), as North Central claimed its 37th consecutive CCIW crown at the Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Ill.

Football

North Dakota State's Scott Stoczynski (Hoffman Estates) was credited with 4 tackles and his first career sack as the Bison defeated visiting Southern Illinois 20-6 in Fargo.

Men's hockey

Senior defenseman Blake Zemaitis (Hersey) led St. Mary's (Minn.) with a goal and an assist in the team's season-opening Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Hockey Showcase in Blaine, Minn.

Zemaitis's goal came at 15:44 of the third period on a slap shot from the left point against Augsburg University.

On Day 2 of the Showcase, Zemaitis played a key role, logging heavy minutes, in shutting down powerful Gustavus Adolphus College, ranked No. 8 in the nation in the USCHO.com Division III NCAA men's hockey poll.

Women's volleyball Aurora University senior outside hitter Amy Reynolds (Schaumburg) has been named to the ESPN the Magazine District V Academic All-District First-Team in women's volleyball.

To be considered for the honor, the nominated student-athlete is required to maintain a minimum 3.30 cumulative grade-point average throughout his or her academic career at AU.

With the First-Team recognition, Reynolds now moves on to the selection process for CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America.

Reynolds, an elementary education major at AU, was honored for her academic success as a student-athlete.

She is no stranger to postseason academic recognition; in 2009-2010, she was named a Northern Athletics Conference Scholar-Athlete.

On the court, she was a Northern Athletics Conference Honorable Mention All-Conference member as a junior in 2009. This season, Reynolds averaged 2.78 kills (No. 9 in the Northern Athletics Conference) and 2.48 digs per game and was named to the All-Tournament team at the AU Jim Coleman Memorial Classic.

The ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District teams are selected by CoSIDA member sports information directors within the district based on the student-athletes' academic prowess while being a steady influence on their respective athletic field.

#376; Memphis outside hitter Altrese Hawkins (Hoffman Estates) followed a career-high 29 kills with 24 to lead Memphis past Tulane. Hawkins surpassed the 700-kill milestone in that match and now leads the team with 373 kills.

When she put down the 29 kills, it was the most by a Tiger since Ashley Liford pounded 30 kills in a 3-1 win over UCF at the 2007 C-USA Championships on November 15, 2007.

Hawkins performance was just the 13th time in Memphis volleyball history that a player has totaled 29 or more kills in a single match. Her previous career-high was a 25-kill effort against UT-Martin on October 13, 2009.

Feeder camps

Tryouts for Wheeling's Jr. boys basketball feeder teams will be Sunday, Nov. 14 at Wheeling High School.

The times are 9:15 to 11 a.m. for eighth graders, 11:15 to 1 p.m. for seventh graders and 1:15 to 3:15 p.m. for fifth and sixth graders. For additional information please contact http://www.eteamz.com/whsfeederbball or head basketball coach John Clancy at john.clancy@d214.org or (847) 718-7119.

One parent/guardian needs to attend the tryouts. Please arrive 15 minutes early for registration. Tryouts are open to all boys living in the Wheeling High School residence area.

#376; Tryouts for the Maine West Junior Warriors feeder program will be Sunday, Dec 5, 12 and 19 at Maine West High School. Sixth graders will be at 1 p.m., seventh at 2:30 p.m. and eighth graders at 4 p.m. Fourth and fifth graders can try out for the sixth grade team.

Plan to attend all 3 tryout sessions. For more information, contact Dan Aloisio at Daloisio@aol.com.

#376; Please e-mail Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.