Girls volleyball: Scouting the MSL championship match
Girls volleyball: Scouting the MSL championship
Fremd (22-7) vs. Hersey (21-8)When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Ken Carter Gymnasium at Hersey High School
History: The 44th edition of the Mid-Suburban League championship finds Hersey playing in its 22nd title match, 21 under current coach Nancy Lill.
The Huskies have won 11 crowns (10 under Lill), including five of the last eight. They have won the East the last 14 seasons.
Hersey's 11 titles are tied for the most with Barrington (11).
"We are excited about representing the East in the championship match with a chance to repeat as conference champions," said Lill, who won her 900th career match at the Hersey Invite.
Fremd is making its fourth appearance in the title match, third under current coach Curt Pinley. Pinley's 1999 team and 2009 teams lost to Hersey in the title match. Dave Boze also directed the Vikings to two title matches (losses to Rolling Meadows in 1989 and 1995).
"We talk a lot about opportunities in life and how you need to take advantage of them when they present themselves," said Pinley, who notched his 400th win the program at last weekend Grayslake North Invite. Hopefully we will take advantage of the opportunity we have worked so hard for. Our program is very excited to be playing in the MSL championship. Our seniors are very excited to play their last conference game on such a big stage.
"We've talked about working hard to achieve a goal but also how to react when you are on the edge of completing that goal. We have had to fight against some very good teams through conference play and I know that we are battle tested because of that competition."
How they got here: Hersey advanced to the title match with an 8-2 record which earned it the co-championship with Wheeling. The Huskies are playing in the title match due to the head-to-head tiebreaker. Hersey defeated Wheeling in two sets while the Wildacts required three sets to top Hersey.
Fremd won the West outright over Palatine (8-2), whose only losses were to the Vikings. Fremd defeated Palatine 20-25, 25-20, 25-21 on the final day of the conference season to clinch the West.
The rosters
Hersey: Zoe Strozewski (6-2 Sr. MB), Emma Frankiewicz (5-7, Sr. L), Liz Solans (5-6, SR, DS-L), Maggie Reisel (5-5, Sr. S), Mary Clare O'Shea (5-11 Sr. RH), Amy Morgan (5-8, Jr. OH), Emma Strozewski (5-11, Jr. S), Sammi Steger (5-10, Sr. MH), Julia Coniglio (5-7, Jr. DS), Alessia Olhava (5-8 So. S), Kati Kaburov (5-10 Fr. OH), Erin Redding (5-4 Sr. DS), Allie Jedd (5-9, Sr, MB), Hayley Martin (5-9 Jr. OH/RH)
Fremd: Karolina Sas (Sr. DS), Rebecca Uhrich (Sr. DS), Sara Ganas (Sr. OH), Bailey Hooker (Sr. OH), Ysabel Lee (Sr. M/OH), Natalie Freund (Sr. S), Jenny Miller (Sr. OH), Hope Yates (Jr. OH), Sarah Straup (Jr. S), Sam Smith (Jr. DS), Anna Siciliano (Sr. MH), Jess Rizzo (Jr. OH), Kailyn Bryk (Sr. M/OH), Jess Mazur (Jr. MH)
Senior-dominated: These are two veteran teams: Fremd has nine seniors on its roster, Hersey has eight.
Curt Pinley on Hersey: "I have seen Hersey play and they continue to bring all the things that they are known for, tenacious defense, aggressive serving, size inside and strong pin play. I am not sure if you can stop all of those things, we hope to just slow them down a bit.
Nancy Lill On Fremd: "Fremd has had an outstanding season is well coached by Curt. They are led by an outstanding hitter in Ysabel Lee, a nice setter in Natalie Freund and solid libero in Karalina Sas."
Pinley's key to win: "If we can limit big runs and keep close in the 20s, we can have a chance. At this point of the season, giving yourself an opportunity is all that a team can ask for."
Lill's key to win: "The team that has more ball control and minimizes errors usually wins this match. The goal is to play your game and not let the atmosphere affect your play. We are looking forward to a great match with Fremd."
Ready to return: Emma Frankiwicz, the Huskies' senior all-area libero, suffered a broken hand early in the season and has missed several weeks. "That will be an added bonus," said Hersey coach Nancy Lill.
- John Leusch