Scouting the Class 4A Huntley sectional final
Class 4A Huntley sectional final
The matchup: Cary-Grove (34-4) vs. Huntley (29-9) at 7 p.m.
How they got there: Cary-Grove defeated Dundee-Crown and Barrington to win the Barrington regional and defeated South Elgin in a sectional semifinal; Huntley beat McHenry and Crystal Lake South to win the CL South regional and defeated Boylan in a sectional semifinal.
Sectional titles: Cary-Grove (1) in 2001; Huntley (7), most recently in 2001.
Recent meetings: Cary-Grove defeated Huntley in 2 games twice during the regular season, on Sept. 15 and Oct. 6.
Outlook: This sectional final provides an intriguing matchup between Fox Valley Conference rivals. Cary-Grove, led by four-year starter and three-time all-area setter Abbey Heredia (Jacksonville State) won the Valley Division title outright. Up-and-coming Huntley, led by two-time all-area setter Amanda Carroll (South Carolina Upstate), is loaded with talented sophomores like libero Amy Dion, the area leader in digs, hitters Ashley Smith and Sam Boesch and middle Jaina Jackson. After suffering an upset in the regional final last season against Jacobs, when top hitter Allison Straumann (Iowa) was sidelined by injury, the Trojans have rebounded with a deep postseason run in 2009, eliminating their opponents in steely, methodical fashion one point at a time. That mindset hasn't wavered regardless of the opponent. "The bottom line for us when we step onto that court is that it's just another match and we have to focus on the next point," Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis said. "It's been working for us all season. This is a very focused group. I don't think they're going to let too many distractions pop into their heads." Cary-Grove is after its first sectional title since 2001. Huntley has matched last year's advancement, when the Red Raiders reached the Class 4A sectional final at Prairie Ridge before bowing out in 2 games against Crystal Lake South. To overcome the Trojans, Huntley must find a way to limit the effectiveness of Cary's multiple weapons: junior hitter Kelly Lamberti, senior hitter Kayla Klinger and junior right side Colleen Smith (Indiana). Each has the talent to carry the Trojans on a given night. Middle blockers Colleen Hargrove and Ashley Rosch are strong at the net, and libero Sam Mainzer had 7 digs against South Elgin in the semis. "They're a great team, probably one of the best I've seen in a long time," Huntley coach Michelle Jakubowski said. "Hopefully, we can prepare well and give them a good match." Home-court advantage will help. The Grateful Red cheering section was at its vocal best on Tuesday and will be again tonight. "It's going to be a good game," Carroll said. "We're excited. We have to play with a little more heart. It's do or die time." The Trojans are aware they will be playing in a rowdy atmosphere. "I think it will definitely bring out a lot of emotion in the Huntley players," Langanis said. "That's something we're prepared to deal with. We know they'll get some emotional runs and some points off of that. Again, that's just a distraction for our team and I think they'll be prepared and not be distracted by what's happening in that gym." Huntley won its own invite this season as well a tournament at St. Viator. Cary-Grove won the Schaumburg and Prairie Ridge Invites.
Advancement: The winner will advance to the St. Charles East supersectional to play the winner of the Geneva sectional final between defending Class 4A state champion St. Charles East (31-6) and York (28-8) on Saturday at 6 p.m.