Girls volleyball: Huntley's energy helps key win at Barrington
Whoever is serving for Huntley's girls volleyball team gets plenty of support from the Red Raiders' bench.
All the reserves chant the server's first name nonstop as she prepares to deliver the ball over the net.
Not only was there plenty of cheering during the match, the Red Raiders were also cheering afterward for their third win of the season, this time a 25-22, 21-25, 25-22 nonconference decision at Barrington on Wednesday night. Huntley took a 24-18 lead in the final set before freshman Megan Bergquist served the Fillies to within 24-22 when Red Raiders coach Karen Naymola called timeout.
Right after, junior outside hitter Lauren Bauer put down the match winner on one of sophomore setter Maggie Duyos' 19 assists.
Sophomore Avary DeBlieck led Huntley's attack with a career-high 10 kills, followed by classmate Allyson Panzloff (5 kills). Senior Martyna Strzelecki had 4 solo blocks while sophomore Luma Acevedo collected 10 digs and freshman Lizzy Williams fired 4 aces.
"It's exciting when our bench is supporting us," DeBliek said. "It's nice to know we have their support and they have our back."
"They're (bench) very positive," Naymola said. "For our team being so young and still getting to know each other, I think they've done really well at meshing. Without having a senior like Emma Konie here (a top hitter for the 2019 supersectional qualifiers), I was very impressed. The girls just played aggressive and stayed aggressive, even when the game was on the line."
The Red Raiders (3-1) took 5-0 leads in each of the first two sets. After a side out kill by DeBliek and 2 service points from Duyos, Huntley owned a 14-7 lead. The Red Raiders went ahead 21-15 with three service points from Lizzy Williams but Barrington got back within 23-22 on a kill by Jenna Meitzler (6 kills).
Huntley then wrapped it up on serving error by Barrington (3-1) and ace from Acevedo. After falling behind 5-0 in set two, the Fillies took their first lead at 16-15 on an ace from junior outside hitter Amanda Cleary (11 digs).
Meitzler had a big 6-point service run which put the Fillies in front 22-18.
"Jenna played awesome," said Fillies coach Michelle Jakubowski of the 6-foot outside hitter/setter.
"We are a young team and I know they were missing Emma but they still have a lot of good players and they're used to running a fast offense in their conference.
"They took 5-0 leads on us in the first two sets but I knew the third one would be close. I couldn't be happier with how our girls came back at the end of the third set."
Sophomore Campbell Paris added 6 kills for the Fillies. Juniors Amelia Sigaev (9 assists) and Felicia Guagliardo (7 assists) set the offense.
"They're (Barrington) a really a good team," DeBlieck said. "I thought we just kept our energy and kept trying to pick each other up."