Willowbrook keeps trophy at home

Setter Kelsey Linnig has played plenty of varsity volleyball the last three seasons for Willowbrook, but there hasn't been a whole lot of hardware added to the trophy case.

That's why Linnig and her teammates were so thrilled after the Warriors swept Coal City 25-19, 25-15 in the championship match of their own tournament Saturday afternoon. With the win 6-0 Willowbrook gave coach Sue Bower her first Willowbrook tourney title in this her 11th year as coach, and it also gave Linning her first volleyball tourney championship of any variety in her four years.

"I've played varsity all four years and this is actually the first tournament we've won," said Linnig, who had 19 assists in the win over the Coalers (5-3). "It's a good thing it happened my senior year and it's a good way to start the season."

The Warriors, who used a balanced attack paced by Mia Railing's 9 kills, had defeated Coal City in pool play Friday night and then outlasted Glenbard North in Saturday morning's semifinals 25-23, 20-25, 25-21.

"In my 10 years of coaching this is the first time we have taken first place at this event," a smiling Bower said. "I just think they have a lot of potential that they don't even realize yet. It's all about their intensity level. I feel like I don't have any standouts, but I have solid players that know the game. They enjoy playing too and that's a key to it."

In the finals the Warriors found themselves tied 9-9 in Game 1 before going on a 15-5 run to take command. Linnig kept many of her teammates involved throughout the match and libero Kelly Conley provided the spark on defense.

"We played really strong," Linnig said. "Our team played coherently and everything is working well. Our libero played phenomenal. She didn't let a ball drop, and everything just worked as a whole team this weekend."

The Warriors have five returning senior regulars from last season, and that experience is already paying dividends this fall. But junior right side Danielle McNamara is also a key contributor. She had a team-leading 7 kills in the semis and followed that up with 6 more in the title match.

Railing, meanwhile, had 15 kills over the two matches Saturday and hopes the team's strong play carries over into West Suburban Conference action, which begins next week.

"Everything flowed," the 5-foot-9 outside hitter said. "It was pretty seamless. A lot of us played together last year and that helps. It's nice that we started off like this, and now we should be ready for our first conference match Tuesday against Hinsdale South."

Metea Valley bounced back from its tough three-set loss in the semis to knock off Glenbard North 25-12, 25-20 in the third-place contest. The Mustangs (5-7) needed three sets to beat the Panthers in Friday's pool play.

For the weekend at Willowbrook, Lexie Lobdell had 24 kills and 9 aces for Metea, while Alexis Bass and Autumn Hagemaster led the way in the semifinals with 6 kills apiece against the Coalers.