Northwest: Scouting girls volleyball sectionals
Class 4A Warren sectional
Where: Warren High School, Gurnee
When and who: Today, 6 p.m. semifinal (No. 1 Libertyville vs No. 4 Stevenson) and 7 p.m. semifinal (No. 2 Hersey vs. No. 3 Lake Zurich); Championship: Thursday, 7 p.m.
How they got here: By winning regional titles: Libertyville d. No. 8 Carmel, Hersey d. No. 7 Zion-Benton, Lake Zurich d. No. 6 Lake Forest, Stevenson d. No. 5 St. Viator.
Advancement: Barrington supersectional on Saturday at 3 p.m.: Winner of the Warren sectional vs winner of the Jacobs sectional (Hononegah vs. Dundee-Crown and DeKalb vs Cary-Grove).
Area team: Hersey is the only remaining area representative in the Barrington supersectional. Coach Nancy Lill guided the Huskies to their 19th reginal titles in her 23 seasons and is looking for a 9th sectional crown, the last being in 2004. The three-time defending Mid-Suburban League defending champs are 31-6 and start only two seniors outside hitter Christine Solans and libero Jenni Mueller. Starting middle blockers Kristen Pedersen and Alexa Stedman are juniors. So are outside hitter Kelsey Haas and right side hitter Maggie Hogen. Senior defensive specialist Danielle Perkins and sophomore Taylor Schill also ignite the backrow with Mueller while Abby Fesl, only a sophomore, is one of the best setters in the area.
Huskies' matchup: Hersey will be meeting Lake Zurich for the second time this season. The Huskies topped the Bears 25-18, 17-25, 25-21 in the championship match of the Hersey Invite on September 18. But the Huskies are trying to avenge a loss to Lake Zurich in last year's sectional championship at Stevenson High School. Solans, Mueller and Pedersen started in that match. “It's still fresh in our girl's memories,” said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. “They are excited about having another shot. It was awesome beating them (Lake Zurich) at our Hersey Invite but this one counts for state and it's fun because it's for a sectional. We have improved defensively and offensively, and I'm sure they would say they have, too. It will be a good match.”
The keys: “I think ball control is huge,” said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. “Amanda Orchard (Lake Zurich junior) is quite an athlete and they are a tall team. We are going to have to contend with their block. They are young and they a have nice setter.” That setter is senior Alexis Hartman, the daughter of former standout Wauconda athlete and former girls volleyball coach Melba Morris Hartman. Hartman dished out 24 assists against Lake Forest and served 5-of-6 with an ace. One of the Bears' underclassmen is junior Natalie Gora, who had 7 kills, 12 digs and 1 block in Lake Zurich's 25-20, 27-25 win over Lake Forest in the Glenbrook North reginal final. Orchard led the Bears with 14 kills while serving 8-of-8 with 3 aces and 8 digs on defense. Lake Zurich coach Matt Aiello, a former Buffalo Grove volleyball standout, called his team's win over Lake Forest a great defensive effort against a great offensive team. Bears freshman Ashley Dina served 10-12 with 3 aces.
The Bears viewpoint: “Hersey is a nice team,” said Lake Zurich coach Matt Aiello. “ They run their outsides and middles quite well. They play with a lot of energy and Coach Lill always has them very prepared.” Lake Zurich is playing in a second straight sectional and third in school history (it also won titles in 2003 and 2004). “On our end, we are prepared and looking forward to the challenge,” Aiello added. “The girls just need to play within themselves and believe in our system and philosophies. We are where we want to be. The goal is to play a complete match and that is within our reach. The girls have learned to play as a unit and not rely on one person too much. They are ready.”
Class 1A Somonauk sectional
When and who: Today 6 p.m. semifinal (Christian Liberty vs. Ottawa-Marquette) and 7 p.m. semifinal (Indian Creek vs. Morgan Park Academy); Championship: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Advancement: Pecatonica supersectional on Saturday at 6 p.m.: Winner of the Somonauk sectional vs winner of the Pearl City sectional (Dakota vs. Scales Mound and Lanark-Eastland vs Annawan).
Area team: Christian Liberty is coming off its second straight regional title in its second year participating in the IHSA state tournament.
The Chargers (13-16) claimed the North Shore Country day regional title Saturday with a 25-18, 25-22 victory over St. Benedict Prep 25-18, 25-22. Senior Annie Salsgiver led the Chargers with 5 kills, 1 block and 1 ace. Other top contributors were Beth Cunningham (4 digs, 1 block, 1 ace), Holly Swiderek (2 aces), Kelly Paul (2 kills), Cammie Kott (4 assists, 1 ace) and Jayna Rowland (4 assists). Coach Natalie Salsgiver says her team has a positive attitude making its second straight sectional appearance. “Most of our girls are back from last year so they are not completely dumbfounded by all of this,” she said. “They are not like deer in headlights. Most of them know what they have to do and I think we are playing better now than earlier in the season.”