Road trip no sweat for MSL champion Hersey
Hersey's girls volleyball team hit the road Thursday night to defend its Mid-Suburban League championship in Palatine.
But the Huskies also had some company as the "Orange Crush" came out in force to support the MSL East Division champions against West titlist Fremd.
The Huskies' student section had plenty to cheer about as Hersey (28-2) won its second straight crown, beating the Vikings 26-24, 25-19.
"Our crowd was amazing," said Huskies coach Nancy Lill, whose daughter Katie - the MSL East Player of the Year - became the first daughter of a MSL girls volleyball coach to win a pair of MSL crowns. "They (Orange Crush) go to the football games and other things, too. They were amazing. They helped us come from behind in Game 2."
As did sophomore Jenni Mueller.
With her team down 15-10, Mueller served 10 straight points, including 2 aces, to ignite the Huskies' match-winning rally.
Also included in the run were 5 kills by senior Jamie Welter, 2 from Katie Lill, 1 by setter Joanna Hoffman (21 assists) and 1 from Maddie Swan on a quick set from Hoffman
"Jenni always brings her serve to the game," said Katie Lill, who finished with a team-high 7 kills. "And I don't know what it is, but our class is so great with its fan support. It inspired us even more."
Senior Tess Dinterman's tip finally ended Mueller's service streak, but the Huskies wouldn't let the Vikings any closer before finally finishing off the match with a kill from junior Christina Solans - her sixth of the match.
"Oh my gosh, we wanted to avenge our lost to Fremd (sectional final last year) so bad," said Swan, who had 3 kills and a block. "After that run by Jenni, we knew we could finish it out. That was awesome. She's done that before."
"I knew we had to win it right then," Mueller said. "Once I get a few serves in, I know I'm going to get some more in. This was a big match for us and we really wanted to win it."
Senior Becca Haraf led the Huskies' defense with 13 digs, while Solans had 9 and Lill 8.
Hersey broke on top 4-0 in Game 1 before Fremd battled back and led 11-10.
But a surprise rifle tip by Hoffman started a 6-0 run, of which Hoffman served the final 5 points, including an ace.
Fremd (20-9) battled back and the game was tied at 21, 22, 23 and 24 before Hersey won it with an ace by senior Alicia Witte and a kill by Swan on a quick set from Hoffman.
"You've got to be able to close Game 1 and we didn't" said Fremd coach Curt Pinley. "That made a big difference and gave them momentum going into Game 2. Then they did a good job in Game 2. That's why they have the record they have.
"Hersey served aggressively and we got caught in a bad situation there in Game 2. Credit Hersey for putting us in that situation and we didn't produce."
Senior Colleen Andersen, junior Alex Messner and Dinterman each had 5 kills for Fremd, whose offense was set by junior Kayla Price (13 assists).
"We fought hard but couldn't pull through," said Price, the MSL West co-Player of the Year along with Barrington senior Tanya Mookerji.
"We picked up our intensity," Messner added. "But it was too late in the match."
Hersey won its third MSL crown since 2005 and has eight in school history, one behind all-time leader Barrington's nine.
"It wasn't our best match by any means," Nancy Lill said. "We played tight. Give Fremd credit. They came at us strong. Their block was effective (Andersen and Dinterman each had a pair of blocks and Jessi Wiedemann had 1) and they served aggressively at us.
"But we were able to close it out in Game 2 so I was really happy about that."