Buffalo Grove honors O’Shea with win over Prospect
There was plenty of fanfare in Buffalo Grove’s 25-20, 25-20 victory over visiting Prospect on Thursday night.
Let’s start before the warm-ups.
That’s when Buffalo Grove assistant principal and director of student activities Mark Schaetzlein stood behind a podium on the gym floor and honored Bison girls volleyball coach Marianne O’Shea for her career at the high school.
O’Shea is retiring as the girls athletic director, a position she has held since 1999. She has been the girls volleyball coach since 2006.
Then came a superb rendition of the national anthem, sung by the match official, Darnell Jones of Lindenhurst.
The excitement didn’t let up once the match began.
In a strange sequence, Prospect’s Amanda Cipek put down a kill that hit hard off the face of BG’s sliding Kathy Hampton.
The Bison’s talented setter came up smiling. A concerned Cipek showed stellar sportsmanship as she trotted under then net to meet Hampton and make sure the BG senior was OK.
Incredibly a few points later, another ball hit off the head of Hampton and actually went right over the net and fell on the floor for a kill.
“She (Hampton) was OK both times and that was possibly the highlight of the season,” said Bison junior standout Bailey North, who put down a match-high 7 kills. “It was hysterical.”
The ever-steady Hampton delivered the ball smoothly all night and collected a match-high 15 assists along with 4 kills for 9-of-9 hitting.
“Four kills for Kathy is great,” O’Shea said. “And I’ve never seen one like that go off the head for one.”
O’Shea has never had a conference season like this one as her Bison took second-place in the East with a 7-3 record.
“Isn’t this the best?” she said after the emotional night in which nearly 20 of her family members attended. “And this is just a wonderful group of girls to go out with.”
Senior Paige Smith added 6 kills to the Bison attack.
“We definitely wanted to finish on a high note in conference,” Smith said. “We wanted to win for coach O’Shea and for ourselves. We knew we couldn’t give up.
“Coach O’Shea is a great coach. She’s funny and knows how to bring us up when we are having a bad day. She has the kindest heart. It’s sad she is leaving but she is definitely leaving a great legacy behind and will be missed.”
Smith did not miss a serve in 7 attempts and also had 5 digs, along with teammate Katie Okamoto. The leader, as usual, was standout libero Victoria Ito, who had 8 digs.
Prospect (10-13, 4-6) was led on attack by Maura Benson (4 kills) and 2 by Colleen Chuipek. Danielle Siwik (7 assists) and Shea Gallus (5) ran the offense for the Knights while Michele DiFatta had 13 digs and Benson 5.
“I’m in a set of two minds,” said Prospect coach Mike Riedy. “I’m disappointed how we played but we actually we improved from our performance the last time when we they walked all over us. They play great defense. They don’t let anything hit the floor and that really flustered us.”
Hersey d. Wheeling: Hersey (21-3) won it 41st straight MSL East match and finished at 10-0 in the league with a 25-13, 25-10 victory.
Kristen Pedersen (8 kills), Kelsey Haas (6 kills), Lindsay Boivin (5 kills), Abby Fesl (3) and Maggie Hogen (3) led the offense for Hersey as Fesl also recorded 23 assists against Wheeling (3-21, 1-9).
Barrington d, Hoffman Estates: Barrington wrapped up a 10-0 season in the MSL West under first-year coach Rob Ridenour with a 25-12, 25-19 triumph.
Peyton Lang and Olivia Szuszkiewicz led the Fillies (23-5) with 8 kills apiece while Lauren Shectman added 6. Setter Lauren Dunseith handed out 23 assists and Amanda Dee collected 15 digs.
Hoffman (7-23, 0-10) was paced by Becca Stoczysnki’s 8 kills and 4 from Destinee Young.
Palatine d. Conant: The Pirates (11-12, 5-5) won for the fourth time in their last five MSL West matches as they received 31 assists, 3 blocks and 1 ace from setter Laura Kluk in a 17-25, 25-18, 25-18 victory.
Taylor Fricano led the winners with 11 kills while Amanda Hilmer added 7. Heather Suiter served 3 aces.
Conant (10-14, 4-6) was led on attack by Jenn Donnell (9 kills) and Allie Bauch (6) while Rachael Yordon (20-20) and Bauch (19-19) led the Cougars’ serve receive.
Rolling Meadows d. Elk Grove: Rachel Mickey (6 kills), Amy Wenzel (5 kills), Jenny Vliet (5 kills) and Morgan Keller (4) were top attackers for Rolling Meadows (15-12, 6-4) in a 27-29, 25-5, 25-16 triumph. Vliet also handed out 15 assists while Olivia Falk had 10.
Krista Soesbe (4 kills, Mallorie DeWitt (3) and Diamond Boyd (3) led the attack for Elk Grove (7-21, 2-8).
Fremd d. Schaumburg: Fremd (16-7, 7-3) notched second place in the MSL West as Jessi Wiedemann (7 kills), Claire Brady (6) and Rebecca Clarke (4) led the attack for the Vikes in a 25-23, 25-17 triumph.
Junior Marilyn Lortz was 58-58 setting with 22 assists for the winners.
The Saxons (15-14, 4-6) received 5 kills from Kelly Koutnik and 4 apiece from Sam Mellert and Kiana Lewis.
Hersey d. Wheeling: Hersey (21-3) won it 41st straight MSL East match and finished at 10-0 in the league with a 25-13, 25-10 victory.
Kristen Pedersen (8 kills), Kelsey Haas (6 kills), Lindsay Boivin (5 kills), Abby Fesl (3) and Maggie Hogen (3) led the offense for Hersey as Fesl also recorded 23 assists.
Marian Catholic d. St. Viator: Marian Catholic won the ESCC match 25-20, 23-25, 25-18 as Lauren Falotico (10 kills, 10 digs) and Rachel Horvath (7 kills, 9 digs) led the Lions’ attack and back row while setter Emily Williams collected 24 assists. The Lions are 15-19 and 2-6.