Girls volleyball: Scouting Stevenson in the state tournament
Scouting girls volleyball
Stevenson (32-7) vs. Minooka (34-6)
What: Class 4A state semifinals
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Illinois State University's Redbird Arena, Normal
Head coaches: Tim Crow (Stevenson, 15th year), Carrie Prosek (Minooka, 2nd year)
Stevenson's road to ISU: def. Wauconda (25-16, 25-20) and Wheeling (25-17, 25-19) to win Buffalo Grove regional, def. Lake Forest (12-25, 25-18, 25-23) and Libertyville (26-24, 25-15) to win Lakes sectional, def. DeKalb (25-21, 25-22) to win Dundee-Crown supersectional
Minooka's road to ISU: def. Romeoville (25-13, 25-7) and Thornton Fractional South (25-14, 25-7) to win Thornton Fractional South regional, def. Joliet West (25-11, 25-17) and Plainfield Central (25-15, 25-20) to win Romeoville sectional, def. Normal Community (26-24, 25-23) to win Normal Community supersectional
Stevenson's state history: The Patriots are making their fourth appearance at state, where they have yet to win a match. In 1990, they lost to Lockport 15-9, 15-4. In 1991, they lost to Belleville West 15-2, 15-8. In 2001, they lost to Sandburg 18-16, 15-3
Minooka's state history: The Indians are making just their second appearance at state. In 1999, they lost their only match, 15-10, 15-9 to Quincy Sr.
About Stevenson: Northern Illinois-bound Jori Radtke is the undisputed leader of the Patriots, who have won 12 matches in a row. A four-year varsity starter, the 5-foot-11 Radtke has racked up a hefty 527 kills to go along with 50 blocks, a team-leading 65 aces and 233 digs. She was named captain of the Daily Herald's Lake County All-Area team. Sophomore Sophie Sorenson (273 kills, 59 aces) also has had a big season. In her first season steering the offense, junior setter Alex Cuc has dished out 869 assists. Junior libero Chloe Robinson boasts a team-leading 262 digs. Hope Havenhill, a 6-2 junior right side, has 122 kills and team-leading 58 blocks. Junior middle Sara Bufe has 39 kills and 49 blocks.
About Minooka: The junior-laden squad boasts a trio of talented 6-foot juniors in 6-1 Alli Papesh. 6-0 Rocky Perinar and 6-2 Holly Bonde. Papesh has a team-leading 390 kills, 45 aces and 81 blocks. Perinar has 298 kills and 67 blocks, and Bonde has put up 222 kills and 87 blocks. Senior setter Brooklyn Bachmann has dished out 940 assists, and junior libero Taylor Baranski has served 42 aces. The Indians have only four seniors on their roster.
Advancement: The winner plays either Mother McAuley (38-1) or Niles West (28-8) for the state championship at 8:55 p.m. Saturday. The third-place match is at 7:25 p.m. Saturday.
- Joe Aguilar