Girls volleyball: Scouting Class 1A, 2A regionals
Class 2A Byron sectional
North Boone regional
Pairings: Today at 5 p.m.: No. 2 Rockford Christian Life vs. North Boone; Match 3 at 6 p.m.: No. 3 St. Edward (14-19-2) vs. No. 5 Rockford Christian; Regional championship match at 7:15 p.m.: Winner Match 2 vs. Winner Match 3.
Outlook: The girls from St. Edward and their coach, Jaime Walton, probably know more about Dickensian England than they know about any of the three teams they could face at the North Boone regional, though it's probably a safe bet none speaks with a cockney accent. "I haven't seen Rockford Christian or any of those people," Walton said. "And we didn't play any teams in common, so it's hard to say how we match up." No matter, at this time of year the Green Wave is only concerned with its own play, the level of which has been rising in recent weeks. In the past few weeks the Wave took a game from reigning Class AA champion St. Francis, nearly won a game against Suburban Catholic power Rosary and rallied from a game down to defeat Montini. "We're definitely peaking," Walton said. "From the very beginning of the season I told the girls we would have our ups and downs, but the main goal was to be prepared for tournament time. We're right on schedule. The girls seem pretty focused. We give them a game plan and they work really hard at it. The kids are confident and comfortable on the floor with each other right now. They have their goals. I'm not as nervous going into this first round as I thought I might be earlier in the year." The Green Wave is led by junior setter Katie Yohn, the team's best all-around athlete, and outside hitter Kristin Haggenjos, a smart junior who will use a variety of swings depending on the block.
Aurora Christian regional
Pairings: Match 1 at 5 p.m: No. 1 Hampshire (30-3) vs. No. 8 Plano ; Match 2 at 6 p.m.: No. 4 Woodlands Academy vs. No. 6 Aurora Christian; Regional championship match at 7:15 p.m.: Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2 Outlook: Hampshire is the odds-on favorite to advance out of this regional and beyond. The Whips enter this match ranked No. 19 in the Daily Herald Top 20 with a record of 30-3. They also enter red hot after upending Geneva last weekend in the title match of the Kaneland Spikefest Tournament. "We have a good chance, but like in the regular season, we never want to look past anyone," Hampshire coach Karen Whitehouse said. "If we play as well as we did last weekend we'll be in great shape. But with rally scoring, volleyball is such a game of momentum that you never know. You have to play every point like it could be your last." The Whip-Purs attack with Jena Karkos and Amy Wehrs on the outsides, Amber Ladwig in the middle and Kara Wehrs at setter. Libero Jen Kondradt anchors the defense. Down the line the Whip-Purs could face a rematch in the Byron sectional final against St. Edward. The Whips dispatched the Green Wave in a sectional semifinal last season.
Class 1A Serena sectional
North Shore Country Day regional
Pairings: Match 1 today at 5 p.m.: No. 2 Morgan Park Academy vs. North Shore Country Day; Match 2 at 6 p.m.: No. 3 Westminster Christian (10-19) vs. Chicago Waldorf; Regional championship at 7:15 p.m.: Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2.
Outlook: Westminster Christian is coming off a 2-3 showing at the Private School League Tournament, where the Warriors were beaten by Wheaton Academy and Illiana Christian. The Warriors should advance to tonight's title match with a victory over Waldorf, a team they defeated 25-3, 25-8 on Sept. 6. "Our girls have really worked hard all season and I am truly very pleased by the effort they've put forth in trying to learn and get better each week," Warriors coach Guy Lum said. "It's a good group of girls, and I know they'd like to finish strong with a win or two in the postseason."
-- Jerry Fitzpatrick