Tourney time at hand for area teams

Let the countdown to Super Tuesday begin.

OK, who are we kidding? For four DuPage-area volleyball teams, the countdown started 51 weeks ago. That was after Naperville Central survived matches against Downers Grove South and Benet to win the sectional title. Days later, the Redhawks won their second state championship in three years.

If seeds play out in the Class 4A Downers Grove South sectional, the same four teams - Benet, Naperville Central, Naperville North and Downers Grove South - will meet again a week from tonight in the semifinals.

Regionals begin Thursday in all four classes.

It's no secret that Downers Grove South is the best sectional in the state. One-beaten Benet (34-1) has lived up to its No. 1 ranking all year, Naperville Central (30-5) has played like the defending state champion and the two other top seeds are among the 10 best teams in Illinois.

"I bet if you're taking a poll in the gym that night (of sectionals), 25 percent of the fans there will be just pure fans there to watch good volleyball," said Downers Grove South coach Colleen Reagan. "It's that good of a sectional."

Benet lost to Naperville Central in the sectional final last year. But the Redwings have beaten the Redhawks twice this season. They've also beaten Downers Grove South (26-8) and Naperville North (31-4), as well as No. 5 sectional seed Hinsdale Central and No. 6 Neuqua Valley.

"That's why we schedule the teams we do," said Benet coach Brad Baker. "If you don't, there's no way you will be ready for this sectional."

Benet returns virtually its entire lineup from a year ago, led by Jessica Jendryk, Ariana Mankus and Natalie Patzin. Middle Val Mattaliano, slowed by a sprained ankle, should be back by next week if not sooner assuming Benet advances.

Naperville Central also returns most of its lineup from a year ago, led by outsides Emily McGee and Meghan Bray.

"Everybody on our team has been there before," Baker said. "We are better for being in that match last year."

Hinsdale Central, who has taken Benet and Downers Grove South to three games this season, and Neuqua Valley, who beat Naperville North in three, loom as the most likely to break up the big four seeds. It won't be easy.

"This is what you spend your whole season waiting for. It's win, or go home," Reagan said. "Getting out of the sectional will be a challenge. We want to be in it."

Elsewhere in 4A, St. Charles East is the definite favorite at the York sectional, and a good bet to return to state. But the host and No. 3 seed Dukes (27-8) aren't to be overlooked, coming off a big win last week at Downers Grove South. No. 4 seed Glenbard East and No. 5 Wheaton Warrenville South, who split two conference matches this season, will likely play the rubber match in the regional final and then get first crack at St. Charles East in sectionals.

In Class 3A, St. Francis looks to return to the state championship game after finishing second to Crystal Lake Central last year.

It won't be easy.

The Spartans (28-7) could be looking at a repeat of last year's sectional final against rosary, this time at Nazareth Academy. The two Suburban Catholic Conference rivals split two matches this season. The winner would get a doozy of a reward, as red-hot Joliet Catholic looms on the other side of the Oswego East supersectional.

"We're young," veteran St. Francis coach Peg Kopec said of her team led by junior Kelsey Robinson and sophomore Meg Vonderhaar. "We'll see what happens. We're going to have at least two tough matches if we want to get down to state."

St. Francis beat Glenbard South in a regional final last year. This year the Raiders (22-13), the No. 3 seed at the Nazareth sectional, hope to win their first regional title in 10 years behind seniors Darah Preston and Kim Schwerdtmann.

"It would be huge. Ten years is a long dry spell," Raiders coach Sherry Hudson said. "I have seven seniors that want to make a statement on their way out."

Immaculate Conception looks to duplicate its run to the Class 1A supersectionals from a year ago. This year, Danielle Remy, Catherine Guido and the Knights will have to do it in Class 2A. They will have to get by Westmont and Lisle in regionals and either Chicago Latin or Chicago Christian in sectionals to do so.