Girls volleyball: DeKalb's big hitters too much for Huntley
Huntley's defensive scheme simply couldn't contain DeKalb's junior dynamic duo of Hannah Oehlberg and Jasmine Kemp.
Oehlberg hammered out 21 kills with 6 blocks while Kemp collected 13 kills with 3 blocks as the Barbs outlasted host Huntley 19-25, 25-21, 25-12 in semifinal action of the Class 4A Huntley girls volleyball sectional Tuesday night.
Dekalb will play Crystal Lake Central in the sectional title game Thursday at 6 p.m. The Tigers downed PR in 2 sets in Tuesday's second semifinal.
Huntley, which won its first Fox Valley Conference championship this season, finishes 27-8.
"We contained their big hitters in the first game but once they got going they were tough to stop," said Huntley coach Karen Naymola. "Once they got the momentum they took advantage of our mistakes and our serve receive. DeKalb is a very good team with some talented players."
In Game 1, there were 10 lead changes and ties before the Red Raiders took the advantage for good 19-18 on a kill by Aleah Amelio.
A 7-1 run to end the game capped by a kill from Julia Johnson gave the Raiders a 1-0 lead in the match.
Huntley started fast in Game 2 and seemed destined to win the match. A kill by Alyson Dion got the Red Raiders off to an 8-3 lead.
The Barbs whittled away at the Raiders' advantage and took the lead for good at 18-17 on a kill from setter Jacqueline Longeville.
DeKalb tied the match at 1-1 on an ace from Longeville, who collected 33 assists, 5 kills and 4 aces in the match,
With 3 kills each from Kemp and Oehlberg, DeKalb jumped out to a 6-1 lead in Game 3.
Never trailing in the decisive game, the Barbs won the match on a kill by Oehlberg.
"Before the match, I told the girls to stay loose and have fun," said DeKalb coach Jamie DiMaggio. "I knew we were playing a great Huntley team at their place. When Huntley started fast I told our girls to keep their composure and we did a great job of that."
Dion, a 4-year starter and a recruit of Division I Southeast Missouri State, ended her career as a Red Raider with 10 kills, 4 blocks and 3 aces.
"Alyson has meant so much to this program for four years," said Naymola. "It was too bad she had to end her career at home the way she did."
Freshman setter Taylor Jakubowski collected 11 kills with 22 assists while Amelio and Johnson had 8 kills apiece for Huntley.
"We are a very young team, playing two freshmen and three sophomores and it was very nerve-racking for them," said Naymola. "We won the Fox Valley and won 27 matches, We had a great season."