Girls volleyball: Kaburov, program's all-time kills leader, sparks Hersey over Libertyville
They kept it a secret over the weekend.
But on Monday night at Libertyville, it was big news - Kati Kaburov is in the Hersey record books.
A starter since her freshman year, Kaburov became the all-time leader in kills for girls volleyball at her high school.
Hersey took on a strong Libertyville squad on Monday night and handled the Wildcats 25-12, 25-17.
Kaburov led her team with a dozen kills, adding to the school record she set on Saturday at Hersey's own invitational.
There is more good news for this senior. She is signed, sealed and on the way to play college volleyball at Boston College next year.
"There is so much to do in Boston, Kaburov noted. "And there is water there."
For her 1,155 career kills, Kaburov broke them down - 227 her freshman year. 326 her sophomore year and 420 her junior campaign. She has 182 this season in 16 matches. She broke Megan Fesl's career mark of 1,141.
"I've known about Kati since she came to our summer camps in the eighth grade,'' said Hersey coach Nancy Lill. "I knew all about her potential."
Lill, too, is on the cusp of a milestone. She needed 22 wins to reach the 1,000 mark in her career when the season began. She now needs just eight more wins the rest of the campaign.
In the early going of the first set Monday, it was 2-2. Hersey setter Kaiya Eshoo went into serve and fired off a pair of aces to extend the Hersey lead to 17-9.
"Our serving was tough tonight,'' Lill added. "It made it difficult for Libertyville to get into system."
Janine Boyan had a kill to put the first set to bed.
Kaburov was on the serving line in Set 2. She departed briefly to put the ball down at the net. It was 9-4 Hersey.
"We were all juniors last year,'' she said. "We are more experienced this year. I've liked all the years playing."
On a block from Libertyville setter Peyton O'Brien, the Wildcats cut the Hersey lead to 12-8. Hersey (14-3) got another ace from Eshoo and the Huskies' lead was 19-14.
Kaburov added 8 digs to her 12 kills. Setter Eshoo had 3 aces and 17 assists. Six-foot-2 senior Juliette Vandenherik had 3 kills and 3 blocks. Libero Maddie Mullen had 9 digs.
Libertyville (15-6) was coming off a week of seven matches and it showed.
The Wildcats were led by middle blocker Cassidy Jones with 5 kills and 3 blocks. Kellie Hopper notched 5 kills. O'Brien had 3 blocks and 12 assists. Olivia Sauers led the defense for the Wildcats with 11 digs. Alannah Howell added 10 digs.
"Hersey dominated throughout and we provided little resistance today to show how we match up against a tall and strong team like Hersey," said Libertyville coach Greg Loika. "We need to be better consistently and we'll grow from here."
Stevenson d. Buffalo Grove: The Patriots won the nonconference match 25-22, 25-23, giving coach Tim Crow his 500th win.
Amanda Holsen led Stevenson (10-6) with 10 kills and 5 aces, while Lily Cozzi had 9 kills and 14 digs. Grace Tully registered 23 assists, 3 kills and 2 aces. The Patriots' other contributors included Emerson Kouri (14 digs), Makayla Uremovich (4 kills) and Connie Song (2 aces).