Steep learning curve continues for Barrington

Barrington's girls volleyball team found itself playing some of the top teams in Illinois the past two weeks.

So when Fillies coach Chris Bronke looks at his team's 3-12 record after it went winless at Saturday's Prairie Ridge tournament, he finds consolation.

"Not only have we probably played one of the toughest schedules in the state, we've had 15 matches in 13 days," said the second-year coach who guided the Fillies to fourth in the Class AA state tournament in his rookie season.

"So that makes it tough with a team with very little varsity experience and very little time to practice."

The Fillies dropped a pair of three-game matches to the host Wolves and St. Charles East. They also lost two-game matches to Fenwick, Cary-Grove and Naperville Central.

Senior defensive specialist Katie Goldrath collected 27 digs in the match against St. Charles East.

"In my two years here, I have not seen a player have that many digs in a match," Bronke said. "Katie was unbelievable; by far our best player in the tournament. She served well, passed well. She was so competitive it was ridiculous.

"Hopefully we can use Katie as an inspiration because she is playing great."

Senior Jackie Patmore put down 7 kills and 3 blocks against St. Charles.

Bronke also liked what he saw from 6-foot sophomore Emily Harris in the middle.

"We're going more to the middle and Emily was a force," he said. "Using her more in the middle was one of our goals."

Senior Meredith Derr had her shares of aces again.

"She did a great job again when we brought her in," Bronke said. "And we've started working with her on the short balls and she got some aces from those, too."

The Fillies, who are 2-0 in the Mid-Suburban West, have played six teams ranked in the Chicago area the past two weeks.

"It great to play a tough schedule," Bronke said. "And this is such a great group of girls, they're tough enough to fight through it.

"With one match this week and the next two weekends off, we'll take a nice deep breath. Now we can go into the gym and practice. I am proud, though, of how the girls have already shown improvement in the first two weeks."

Vernon Hills Invite: Although Buffalo Grove (2-10-1,) didn't win a match in the tourney (0-4-1), Bison coach Marianne Mendoza liked the leadership she saw from seniors Emily Nowicki, Alyssa Falk, Lauren Angotti and Lauren Mitchell.

Mitchell had 13 blocks and 2 kills.

"Lauren is the leader for us on the court," said Mendoza, whose club split two games with the host Cougars. "No matter what is going on, she kills when she needs to and she plays smart. She has really been our consistent one."

She had 8 kills and served 5 aces while collecting 18 digs.

"Emily has been our consistent passer," Mendoza sad. "She is digging a lot of balls."

Falk handed out 10 assists and had 19 digs.

"Alyssa will set a game, then play libero," Mendoza said. "She goes back and forth, and she does a nice job at both. She is so willing to do whatever the team needs."

Angotti led the Bison with 19 kills.

"Lauren Angotti is the heart and soul player," Mendoza said. "She grinds out everything she can. She gives every thing she has at all times."

Mendoza stressed the importance of her four seniors.

"They have been great role model for this team," she said. "Their work ethic and attitudes are great. It's nice to see kids who have come through program and give it back to other kids.

"They enjoy game so much and give so much t every match. We may not win, but there out they're playing their hardest every single match."

With junior middle hitter Sarah Hampton (knee) and junior Jaclyn Sisi (personal reasons) missing Saturday, freshman Alanna Zawlocki (5-foot-8) and junior Katie Quill (5-6) stepped in.

Zawlocki had 10 blocks and 2 kills.

"It was fun to see a freshman come up (to the varsity) and play," Mendoza said.

Junior Britany Abrahms (12 blocks, 6 kills) took over the middle spot for Hampton, while Quill and Zawlocki handled right side hitting positions.

Quill was 13-of-13 attacking with 3 kills.

"Both of them (Quill and Zalowcki) did a nice job of playing on the varsity for the first time," Mendoza said. "We'll just try to get better every match and keep improving."