Benet braces for defining moments
If Benet wonders where it stacks up among the state's other elite, the Redwings are about to find out.
Starting with Thursday's home match with Marist, the No. 2-ranked Redwings will play their most difficult stretch of the season.
Benet is at the Mizuno Cup this weekend, hosts Joliet Catholic the following Thursday and is at Glenbard East's Autumnfest tournament Oct. 14-15.
“We'll definitely find out what we're made of,” Benet coach Brad Baker said. “We love this stretch of the season. It's a great way to get ready for the end of the year and the playoffs.”
Benet (18-2) had its 11-match win streak snapped last Thursday, dropping a 26-28, 25-23, 25-23 decision at Providence in a match that featured a six-minute lightning delay.
“It was a perfect storm where everybody had an off night on the same night,” Baker said. “Providence played well. It wasn't for a lack of effort, but it's sports. Sometimes you have those nights and we've had very few this season. That night we did.”
Baker did note that senior middle Meghan Haggerty played outstanding against Providence and is getting stronger as she builds her connection with first-year varsity setter Hannah Kaminsky.
Benet could be getting closer to full strength. Senior middle Mackenzie Kuhn, out all season with an ankle injury, practiced for the first time Friday. Gabby Pethokoukis, a third senior middle sidelined with a broken finger, will visit a doctor Thursday in hopes of getting cleared.
Benet is the top seed at Mizuno Cup, with Joliet Catholic No. 2 and host St. Charles East No. 3. Benet defeated St. Charles East in a memorable semifinal last year before losing to Joliet Catholic in the final. Edwardsville, third in Class 4A last year, is seeded fourth and Leon (Fla.), a new entry to the tournament ranked 94th nationally in PrepVolleyball.com's most recent top 100, is seeded fifth.
Benet is in the same pool as red-hot Naperville Central, currently riding a six-match win streak. Seven of the 24-team field are from outside the Chicago area, which Benet doesn't see in its other three tournaments.
“It's nice to be in a tournament where we get to see teams we normally wouldn't play,” Baker said.
Mighty Casey in Wheaton North middle:Libbie Casey might not be your typical middle. She stands just 5-foot-9, and plays three sports instead of limiting herself to volleyball year-round.The Wheaton North senior isn't one to shy away from a challenge, though.Casey, a two-year varsity starter who also plays basketball and softball, is averaging 3-4 kills per match. She makes up a dynamic duo with senior setter Katie Thornton.#8220;She has great agility and is athletic,#8221; Falcons coach Carole Kristensen said. #8220;I would have loved to put her on the outside, but because of her quickness she's a good middle. We've been able to run Libbie a lot.#8221;Kristensen called Casey a #8220;sponge#8221; with a work ethic #8220;beyond any normal athlete#8221; that won't stop until she finds perfection.She possesses good speed in the middle and Kristensen said Casey has honed her defensive skills this year playing back row with a good serve.Just as important is Casey and Thornton's calming influence on a relatively inexperienced 6-12 Falcons team as it wades through the tough DVC schedule.#8220;They don't get riled up and are always encouraging. It's hard when you are playing OK but your team is not always winning,#8221; Kristensen said. #8220;Her and Katie are always the first ones running, the first one to put up the nets, the first ones to do everything. Libbie is one of those good kids you're going to miss.Dukes junior achiever:No. 1 York boasts four seniors committed to play volleyball at Division I schools.Don't forget about Melissa Deatsch, though.Dukes coach Patty Iverson said that right now junior outside Deatsch is her team's best all-around player. Deatsch had a team-best 8 kills in York's win at Hinsdale South last Thursday.#8220;When we started the year I thought she was going to be our libero,#8221; Iverson said. #8220;She came back at the beginning of the year and made some improvements. In the last two weeks she's been doing a great job hitting well, passing almost perfect and serving some aces to keep us in matches.#8221;York has hit a light portion of its schedule. The Dukes (20-2) enjoyed the last two weekends off, allowing them to get back in the weight room and work to improve their blocking and defense. Things pick up soon, with a home match against 23-2 Glenbard West today and a tough nonconference match at Marist next week.York has won 13 straight matches and 21 sets in a row, but Iverson said her team has yet to play a match where its returning five starters were on the court playing well. Now is the time to clean things up.#8220;It would be amazing,#8221; she said, #8220;if that would happen.#8221;