Thrill for Lill as Hersey coach earns win No. 700
It's "just a number" says a modest Hersey coach Nancy Lill.
But it's a number not many high school girls volleyball coaches will ever reach.
"It's all about the kids," Lill added.
Well, the "kids" have helped produce 700 wins (and only 223 losses) in Lill's 26-year coaching career that began at Wheeling High School in 1984 and then commenced at her present school in 1988.
With's Tuesday's 25-15, 25-15 Mid-Suburban East victory at Buffalo Grove, Lill joins seven other coaches who have won more than 700 matches in the sport, including the all-time leader Peg Kopec, who earlier this season gained No. 1,000 at Wheaton St. Francis.
Lill has also won 13 MSL division titles, 5 MSL crowns, 6 supersectionals and second-, third- and fourth-place state trophies.
"You have to appreciate people who dedicate themselves that long to one sport and are that successful," said BG coach Marianne O'Shea, who has also served as the MSL girls volleyball chairman for 10 years.
Amy Barfield has been an assistant in Lill's program for 10 years. She and assistants Bob Brown (11 years), Ben Chin (six years) and Dan Vesper (one year) all congratulated Lill on her milestone and former assistant Jodi Blazek (the current boys volleyball coach) was on hand.
Blazek was a freshman in Lill's first year at Hersey and then became a varsity all-area volleyball player.
"I was a basketball player but when I went to the Hersey volleyball camp I fell in love with the sport because of her (Lill)," Blazek said. "She taught me so much. She has the same desire now as she did back then."
"She's great," added Barfield, a former standout at Lake Zurich in volleyball and softball. "She is so competitive and it goes right through the players. She works them hard in practice every day. She knows her team and she knows the opponent."
This year's team included her daughter Katie, who has been a big reason the Huskies keep piling on the wins the last few years. Lill had 5 kills and 8 digs Tuesday.
Senior Jamie Welter enjoyed one of her best matches, putting down a match-high 7 kills on 10-of-10 attacking.
"It's really cool to be a part of this," said Welter about her coach's historic win.
"It's an honor," added senior Maddie Swan, who added 3 kills and a block. "I want to be a high school teacher and coach and she has been such a big influence on me. She is a great role model for athletes and students."
Chin was a coach at Wheeling when Nancy Lill got her 500th triumph against the Wildcats. Chin has been on the Huskies' staff for Nos. 600 and 700.
After the match, Lill received flowers and a large chocolate chip cookie with "Congrats No. 700" written on it.
It sure was a sweet win for the Huskies who are now 19-1 and 7-0 in the MSL East.
BG (5-15, 1-6) was led on defense by Alexa Barrowman and Jessica Ray with 5 digs each while Angie Lombardo had 4. Alyssa Feld had a pair of kills.
Joanna Hoffman set the Huskies' offense with 15 assists while Becca Haraf (8 digs), Lill (8 digs), Christina Solans (6 digs) and Hoffman (5 digs) led the defense.