Scouting the Class 4A Geneva sectional
Class 4A Geneva sectional
No. 1 St. Charles East (30-6)
vs. No. 5 St. Charles North (25-11)
Game time: 6 p.m. today
Postseason history: The Saints, now winners of 22 regional championships including four straight, have won 9 sectionals in school history, including the past two years when they went on to finish third and first in state. St. Charles North won sectional titles in 2005 and 2006.
Players to watch: The health of the Saints' Jacqui Seidel and Caroline Niski is one key to watch, with the pair of Division I-bound seniors nursing injuries that kept Niski out of the last four matches and Seidel out of the first game Saturday against Willowbrook. Freshman setter Erienne Barry, sophomore outside Meghan Niski and sophomore middle Nichole Lambert not only are helping the team win this year but ensure a continued bright outlook for the program. None of St. Charles North's seniors have committed to colleges yet but plenty are looking, and middles Allie VanDril and Jill Stolzenburg, outsides Katie Fuerst, Karlie Giesler and setters Olivia Schneider and Sarah Clarkson would like nothing better than to end the Saints' hopes of defending their state championship.
Outlook: The North Stars took the first game from the Saints during their Upstate Eight meet only to watch St. Charles East rally for a 21-25, 25-12, 25-22 victory. St. Charles North led 19-14 in the third game until Seidel and Niski led the Saints' charge back. Now the North Stars get another shot. "We're so, so exited," North Stars coach Lindsey Hawkins said. "We know it is going to be tough competition but we know we can play with anybody."
No. 2 Geneva (35-2)
vs. No. 3 York (27-8)
Game time: 7 p.m. today
Postseason history: Geneva just won its 8th regional title; the Vikings have never won a sectional. York has won 16 regionals with its only sectional championship coming in 1993.
Players to watch: York senior outside Lauren Zerante is committed to Bradley. The other keys to the Dukes are all sophomores, 5-foot-7 outside Caroline Rose, middle Morgan Semmelhack and setter Katie Gallagher. Rose and Semmelhack both played varsity as freshman. Geneva counters with a senior dominated lineup led by outside Lauren Wicinski and middle Kelsey Augustine. Setter Brooke Morphis is the lone junior in a rotation that also includes right side Shannon O'Neal and middles Katie and Alexa Sommer.
Outlook: Geneva's road to the sectional championship won't be easy against a Dukes team that is 25-3 in their last 28 matches, losing only to Lyons twice and Benet. The Vikings' only 2 losses this season came against Joliet Catholic and Muskego (Wis.). Many of the same players who were on the court last year for York's 26-24, 25-21 sectional semifinal win over Geneva return; could the change to playing this match on the Vikings' home court help the home team advance?