Girls volleyball: Previewing the Mid-Suburban League championship
46th MSL girls volleyball championship
Who: Barrington (23-11) at Buffalo Grove (20-10)
When: Wednesday, 7 p.m. (all-conference selections at 6:30 p.m.)
Where: Buffalo Grove High School
The past: This title match is hardly anything new for Barrington The Fillies have played in the showcase 14 previous times, winning 11 of them. Their most recent visit was 2013 when they defeated Hersey. They own the longest winning streak of consecutive MSL crowns, winning five straight under coach Karen Traub from 2000 to 2004.
"I showed the girls the board (history)," said fifth-year coach Michelle Jakubowski, who is taking her first team to the first title match. "And they know they haven't been part of it yet. This is the first time for this senior class. But they know the traditions of the Spicers and Zimmermans (former all-area standouts who led Fillies to titles) and they want to start tradition back up and l'm proud of them for that."
Buffalo Grove is in this match for the first time in four decades. Its last and only other visit was in 1976 when the Bison lost to Forest View. At the time, the MSL's two divisions were the North and South. BG was the North champ and Forest View the South.
"It's something really new for us," said seventh-year BG coach Matt Priban. "So I think that's one of the things we are focusing on. We're stepping into this like it is another match - staying levelheaded, ready to play and execute."
The present: Coincidentally, both teams won their last nine division matches to go 9-1, finish as co-champions and make it to the title game thanks to defeating the team they tied with in two sets after losing in three the first time.
Barrington tied with defending champ Fremd after falling in the three sets (Vikes won 18-25, 25-18, 25-14) in the first West match of the season. The Fillies then won nine straight, including a 25-17, 25-22 win over Fremd which turned out to be the decisive match in the tiebreaker.
Buffalo Grove also tied with the defending champ Hersey after falling in three sets (Huskies won 18-25, 25-15, 25-22) in the first East match of the fall. The Bison then won nine in a row, including a 25-16, 25-16 win over Hersey which turned out to be the decisive match in the tiebreaker.
The lineups: Barrington: 5-6 senior libero Mia Ruffolo, 5-5 senior defensive specialist Arianna Armando, 5-7 senior setter Sabrina Loutos, 5-8 senior setter Tara Kozak, 5-7 sophomore setter Felicia Guagliardo, 5-10 senior outside hitter Ola Magiera, 5-11 senior middle blocker Paige Ramel, 6-0 junior middle blocker Noelle Daehler, 5-7 junior outside hitter Haley DeBoer, 5-7 senior defensive specialist Lauren Carder, 6-1 senior outside hitter Peyton Tilly, 5-10 junior outside hitter Willow Nelson, 6-0 senior outside hitter Bailey Madzryk, 5-9 freshman outside hitter Amanda Cleary, 5-6 junior outside hitter Olivia Rojas, 5-4 junior defensive specialist Alyssa Rodda.
Buffalo Grove: 5-10 sophomore right side Hannah Arbitman, 5-4 senior defensive specialist Gianna Loverde, 5-9 junior middle hitter Angela Rose, 5-7 sophomore defensive specialist Megan Mitsunaga, 5-9 senior outside hitter Claire Ferriss, 5-6 senior libero Nina Masciopinto, 6-1 senior middle blocker Abby Kim, 6-0 senior setter Maggie Streckert, 6-1 senior right side Lauren Horvath, 6-1 junior middle hitter Zori Angelova, 5-4 senior defensive specialist Kristen Belias, junior Alyssa Ramos, 5-6 sophomore defensive Ella McBride, 6-1 sophomore outside hitter Shannon Coglianese.
The recruits: Two starters in the match - both for Barrington - have committed to college women's volleyball teams. Libero Mia Ruffolo is headed to the University of Connecticut while outside hitter Bailey Madzryk is bound for Wheaton College in Norton, MA.
The coaches' view: Barrington's Michelle Jakubowski - "I think the key for us is to play our game. We are just trying to get better every day to prepare for the postseason. This is a great environment to get ready for the postseason environment with all the fans and we are just excited about playing in this match. We're just trying to get better, run a faster offense, play a little better defense and keep serving aggressively. We'll be on the road for the postseason so playing on the road in this game is a good way to get ready. We didn't play that well last Friday at the Autumnfest (at Glenbard East) but I think that is because we were coming off a big conference win and we were a little flat. But we came back on Saturday and went 3-0 to win the bronze division so we're really excited about that. We're on a winning streak and want to keep riding that."
Buffalo Grove: Matt Priban - "I think the key to the match is getting into a good rhythm offensively. Our defense has been pretty key for us all season. So if we get it moving, stay quick and stay aggressive, we should be up for a pretty good match. We've been on a roll for a couple of weeks now, pretty much since we had Stevenson, Hersey and Rolling Meadows in a span of four days. The girls have been stepping up, executing and playing on the same page. It's really been fun to see and fun to be part of. We're excited for the match and to step out there and play our best."