Hersey, Barrington control MSL races
The Hersey and Barrington girls volleyball teams landed in identical positions after wins on Tuesday night.
Both own two-match leads in their respective Mid-Suburban East and West divisions.
Three-time defending MSL champ Hersey pulled away to a two-match lead over Rolling Meadows by stopping the host Mustangs 25-11, 25-21.
Senior Kelsey Haas led the Huskies (17-3, 6-0) with a match-high 10 kills while also serving a pair of ace and collecting 6 digs.
Haas’ front line partner, Kristen Pedersen, went into the match questionable but played with her pinkie taped to her ring finger. The senior had dislocated the pinkie last Thursday in a match against Wheeling.
Pedersen still came through with 7 kills and 4 blocks.
“Kristen was a real trooper,” said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. “Four blocks is really something for someone who dislocated her pinkie four days ago. Because she wasn’t able to bend her fingers, she would have had a hard time passing so we kept her out of the back row.”
As usual, Taylor Schill was in the back row and she picked up a match-high 14 digs. But the all-area libero also did some damage offensively, putting down a pair of kills from two back row attacks.
Senior Lindsay Boivin added 4 kills for Hersey while teammate Maggie Hogen added 3.
Abby Fesl set the offense, handing out 25 assists from 53 attempts. The junior standout also had 7 digs.
Rolling Meadows (10-7, 4-2) was led on attack by Veronica Drabowski and Rachel Mickey, who each had 4 kills. Jenny Vliet handed out 6 assists and put down 3 kills.
Barrington d. Conant: The Fillies improved to 17-2 with a 25-18, 25-15 MSL West triumph over Conant.
Coach Rob Ridenour watched his attack receive a match-high 9 kills from senior Olivia Szuzskiewicz while Julia Thompson added 7 and Peyton Lang 4. Lang also recorded 2 blocks and Madison Keller 1.
Setter Lauren Dunseith handed out 23 assists and Lauren Shechtman and Natasha Singh each served 5 aces.
Singh (11 digs), Szuzskiewicz (10) and Thompson (8) paced the back row for the Fillies.
Senior Rachael Yordon had 12 digs and served an ace for Conant (7-11, 2-4).
Schaumburg d. Hoffman Estates: Junior Kelly Koutnik (9 kills, 15 digs) and senior Bria Hailey (8 kills, 8 blocks) were top attackers for Schaumburg in its 25-21, 25-23 MSL West triumph.
Meghan Falsey handed out 9 assists and Sam Mellert had 5 for the Saxons (10-7, 4-2).
Hoffman (6-15, 0-6) was paced on attack by Becca Stoczynski (4 kills), Destinee Young (3), Becky Knapik (3) and Ali Engelhardt (2) while Knapik also served 4 aces.
Fremd d. Palatine: Fremd (13-6, 4-2) defeated Palatine for the second time in three meetings this season 26-24, 25-20 in the MSL West.
The Vikes were led on attack by freshman Lane Hindenburg (5 kills), senior Jessi Wiedemann (3) and junior Rebecca Clarke (3) while junior setter Marilyn Lortz directed the attack with 20 assists. Hindenburg also served 4 aces and Taryn Lempa 3.
Taylor Fricano (8 kills) and Heather Suiter (3) led the attack for Palatine while Laura Kluk handed out 13 assists with 5 digs. Teammate Casey Dolen collected 8 digs.
Prospect d. Wheeling: Senior outside hitter Sage Rebecca enjoyed one of her finest matches of the season, putting down a match-high 9 kills as Prospect won 25-18, 25-23 in the MSL East.
Sophomore middle hitter Carly Thompson added 4 kills for the Knights (8-11, 2-4) while seniors Danielle Siwik (12 assists) and Shea Gallus (11) ran the offense.
Lauren Yearian and Maura Benson each had blocks for Prospect.
Wheeling (1-14, 0-6) was led by Kellie Kuzmanic (7 kills, 4 blocks) while Mayra Ocampo added 4. Amanda Mullin collected 18 assists for Wheeling.
Buffalo Grove d. Elk Grove: Buffalo Grove used a balanced attack to top Elk Grove 25-14, 25-21 in the MSL East.
Kathy Hampton collected 23 assists as the attack was led by Paige Smith (7 kills), Bailey North (5), Alaina Murphy (4), Mary Zawlocki (4) and Alyssa Mills (4). Katie Okamoto (8 digs) and Victoria Ito (7) led the back row for the Bison (9-11, 2-4).
Elk Grove (7-17, 2-4) received 2 kills apiece from Mallorie DeWitt and Krista Soesbe.
Marist d. St. Viator: Marist stopped the Lions 25-11, 25-19 in the East Suburban Catholic.
Seniors Lauren Falotico (18-for-19, 6 kills) and Olivia Nuelle (7-for-7, 4 kills) led the attack for St. Viator while classmate Emily Williams had 3 blocks and handed out 10 assists.