Girls volleyball: Surging Dundee-Crown hoping to join FVC's elite

In the opening scene of the new Mission Impossible movie, Tom Cruise's character is seen holding on to the side of a military plane as it takes off.

That scene is familiar to the Dundee-Crown girls volleyball team in more ways than one.

For starters, Charger players took in said flick at an outdoor drive-in over the summer - just one of the many off-the-court activities they do.

On the court this fall, just like Ethan Hunt, the Chargers are flying high, off to an impressive 13-2 start and a 2-0 beginning in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division action heading into Thursday's home match with Huntley.

But fielding a first-class program is nothing new at D-C. Fourth-year head coach Christine Hopkins-Muehl has picked up right where former longtime coach Tracy Williams left off in running a consistently quality operation. Hopkins-Muehl is a 1996 D-C graduate and was on Williams' staff for the first 12 years of her tenure at the Carpentersville school.

In years past, though, the one missing ingredient for D-C has been the tangible rewards on paper. Welcome to Fox Valley Conference girls volleyball. As we all know, the FVC consistently houses some of the top programs in not only the area, but the state.

Crystal Lake South, Cary-Grove, Jacobs, Huntley, Crystal Lake Central and Prairie Ridge (the latter two have since peeled off to the smaller-school Fox Division) all have had high degrees of success dating back to the days when the league was one eight-member group (Huntley still was part of the Big Northern Conference). Since 1995 those six schools have won a combined 58 regional titles, 22 sectionals and 2 state titles (12 fourth-place or higher state finishes). Not exactly chopped liver.

But times look like they are a changing. The Chargers already hold wins over Central (at the Jacobs tournament) and South (FVC Valley match) - both are believed to be the first time D-C has defeated the two Crystal Lake schools. D-C, which has won 5 regional titles in program history, has never won an FVC volleyball title.

"It's so exciting being on the other side of things," D-C senior outside hitter Gina Pagano said. "It helps with momentum. You want to go to practice and you want to get better. You want to win more matches."

This hot start, which includes winning the West Chicago tournament, isn't unexpected. As Hopkins-Muehl pointed out, the Chargers return virtually their entire starting lineup from a team that won 24 matches a year ago.

"We have big expectations," said Hopkins-Muehl who pointed out the team is excited to be hosting a Class 4A regional this season. This year is a little different. We're a little more on the radar. Last year we were in an underdog situation. Now people are talking about us and know about us."

Pagano added: "We've been building up to this. We've all been on the team for a long time and we all have club experience. It's all coming together this year."

D-C's recipe for success has two origins. The Chargers benefit from the contributions of many. To start the week, 5 players had 50 or more kills led by senior outside Bre Novak, junior middle Emma Brant, senior opposite Ashley Raby and Pagano. Setters Frankie Cavallaro (senior) and Ali Buckley (junior) direct D-C's 6-2 offense, while sophomore libero Zoe Sitarz leads the way in the back row. Middles Kailey Moll (senior) and Paige Gieske (junior) and junior outside Ayana Guard also are contributing.

It's worth noting many of D-C's players enjoyed success over the summer on the club circuit. Three players (Brant, Buckley and Gard) were on a Top Flight team that went into USA Volleyball Junior Nationals with a 50-0 record. Pagano, Novak and Raby were on an older Top Flight team that also competed at nationals. Cavallaro also has nationals experience with her Balance club team.

"Volleyball is not a one-person sport," said Cavallaro, one of three team captains along with Pagano and Buckley. "It takes all six players to be there on every point. If not, there is no way you are going to be successful. It takes a group effort."

That group effort has been bolstered by a tremendous sense of team unity. After-hours activities such as sleepovers, haunted houses, pumpkin carving and going to a Northern Illinois University women's match are commonplace. A trip to a corn maze may be added to the Chargers' fall social calendar,

"We get along great and that definitely shows on the court," Buckley said. "It's the little things that bring us together."

Pagano added: "We have such a connection this year. If something is bugging you outside volleyball you can talk to your friends on the team. You can be yourself. We have a lot of good leaders. It's fun to hang out with the girls on the team. We're one unit all linked together."

And now comes the big test for D-C. Thursday's match with Huntley starts a string of three league matches that quickly will show the Chargers where they stand. D-C heads to Cary-Grove next Tuesday and then faces District 300 neighbor Jacobs Sept. 23.

"We want to stick with the best," said Cavallaro. "Huntley will be a big test for us. They are one of the better teams. We know we can't get too ahead of ourselves. We have to keep improving and control what we can."

Hopkins-Muehl gave quite the vote of confidence. "It's a great group. Every girl on this team brings a different piece to the puzzle and the team atmosphere has been key. We support our girls and are here to help them reach their goals. I believe they can come to fruition as long as they stay on track in practice and adjust to our game plans. I believe in these girls."

And the Chargers believe they are ready to take that next step.

Mike Miazga has been writing about Fox Valley sports since 1993. Contact him at mjm890@gmail.com.