Hersey's win star-crossed
In a match when its star player went down with an ankle injury, Hersey's girls volleyball team became the shining star of the Mid-Suburban East -- again.
The Huskies won their fifth straight championship on Thursday with a 25-18, 25-17 over visiting Elk Grove.
While the Huskies (18-5, 8-1) were able to smile about clinching a 14th divisional crown in school history, they were also fretting over the ankle injury Lauren Dembkowski suffered in Game 2.
The Huskies were enjoying a 15-5 lead when their top attacker and four-year starter had to leave the match.
"It's scary," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill." We don't know the extent of the injury."
But the Huskies do know they're headed to the Oct. 17 MSL title game as sole champions of the East at West champion Schaumburg.
Before leaving the match, Demkowski helped Hersey put it away with 9 kills, followed by McKenzie Forbes (6), Ann Carroll (5) and sophomore Katie Lill (4).
For Lill, the daughter of Nancy, it was finally her turn to participate in a title run after watching her mother's teams win the last four years.
"I'm so excited," said Katie, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter. "It really feels good to be able to contribute to this. Since I was born, I've been coming to these matches."
Setter Shelly Mueller was able to collect 20 assists against a Grenadiers' defense which came up with several big defensive plays.
Leading the way for the visitors was senior libero Megan Maize, who had 12 digs.
"Megan played a great match," said Grens coach Joe DiSilvio. "She passed well, played great defense and served well. To have 12 digs against Hersey is very good."
Maize recognized Dembkowski's strong attack.
"She's one of the best players I've seen in the league," Maize said. "I hope that injury of hers isn't bad."
The Grenadiers (13-9, 5-4) have not had a bad season. If they win their final match, it would be their best league record since 1994 when they were 7-3.
"We did so well at the start of the season," said Maize, whose club notched a win over Barrington in the first week. "Now we want to finish strong."
"Their libero (Maize) was so good," Katie Lill added. "They played the best defense I have seen in our league. It's really frustrating because they dig up everything."
Forbes was 9-of-9 on attack for Hersey .
"McKenzie was on fire," Nancy Lill added. "She had a huge game and Ann Carroll had some big swings, too."
Elk Grove was led on attack by Michelle Johnson (5 kills) Maize (2) and Kelsey Prochenski (2). Katie Spychala had 7 digs and Caitlyn Garrison 4.
"There's never an easy win in the MSL East," DiSilvio said. "We've gone down to the wire in almost all five of our wins. She (Nancy Lill) told me we did a nice job after the match and that was nice to hear."
Prospect d. Meadows: Prospect (9-13, 6-3) was led on attack by Tracy Hefferan (13 kills) and Hillary Trebels (12) while setter Jackie Canonaco had 39 assists. Host Rolling Meadows (11-12, 4-5) received 12 kills from Jenna Milas and 8 from Dana Demmert in the MSL East.
Fremd d. Conant: Danielle Warner (11 kills) and Kaityln Pascus (6) paced the attack for host Fremd (15-8, 6-3) in a 25-13, 25-14 victory. Stephanie Alesi added 5 and Bridget Morton 4. Conant is 14-12 and 4-5.
Schaumburg d. Barrington:ΠMSL West champ Schaumburg (18-3, 9-0) tuned up for its own invite Saturday with a 25-17, 27-25 victory as Alexandria Jackson (6 kills), Gabrielle Blackwell (5), Heather Bolger (4), Monica Sanchez (4) and Drewann Pancratz (3) led the attack.
Outside hitter Jackie Patmore put down 9 kills for host Barrington (6-17, 5-4) while Paige Czarnecki had 18 assists and Kelly Pickering 11.
Buffalo Grove d: Wheeling: Senior Lauren Angotti (30-for-33) put down 24 kills for host BG (3-17-1, 1-8) in a 25-23, 24-26, 25-18 MSL East victory. Jaclyn Sisi handed out 18 assists.
Wheeling (12-15, 3-6) was led by Lilly Villalobos' 5 kills.
Bartlett d. Larkin: Bartlett took this Upstate Eight Conference meeting via a 25-19, 25-16 win in two games. Kelli Johnson (3 kills, dig) and Natalie Beaver (3 kills, block) led the Larkin attack.