Girls volleyball: Barrington downs Prospect in home finale
Always hustling and on-the-move Barrington athletic director Mike Obsuszt made it back from a boys regional soccer game to catch the final home match for the 2021 girls volleyball team on Tuesday night.
It was also the final home girls volleyball match for Obsuszt as the school's AD. He is retiring next June after 19 years in the position.
"The girls volleyball team has always been enjoyable to watch because they play hard and they play together," he said. "Their teammates are supportive on the sidelines and they are very well coached."
Obsuszt and the Barrington fans saw all those qualities on Tuesday as the Mid-Suburban West co-champions rallied from a first-set setback to roll past Prospect 21-25, 25-10, 25-10 in the MSL second-place crossover.
"We were just thinking this (first set) is not the way we want to end our season at home," said standout Barrington libero Amanda Cleary, who collected 9 digs. "We just love this community and we love each other. We knew we had to push through no matter what, pull together as a team, and be there for each other. I'll always remember my teammates, coaches, and this community. I will never forget the people here because they are incredible."
Senior Bre Dunn put down 5 kills in her final home match.
"It's really emotional but I'm so happy with the team and super excited for the postseason and where we end up," Dunn said. "I'm really going to remember this family. We cheer for everyone and I'm going to miss the love and support."
Listening to Cleary and Dunn, you can tell Obsuszt's assessment of the high-caliber program was right on target, just like the Fillies were in the final two sets which got them to a 28-7 record heading into next week.
"It's sad (last home match) but maybe that's why we played so poorly in the first set," said Barrington coach Michelle Jakubowski with a smile and laugh. "They wanted to get an extra set for their last one in this gym. That's what I'm going to go with right now."
Sarah Jensen (4 aces) began the first set with an ace and 3 straight service points to get the hosts ahead 3-0.
But Prospect rallied and with the score tied 9-9, Lauren Mueller served an ace and Prospect would never trail again. The Knights went ahead 13-10 on a kill by Lauren Wiley and led 24-16 following 5 straight service points from Mackenzie Feiser. Campbell Paris (8 kills) finally ended her run with a kill and the Fillies escaped 4 set points before Julia Wydro's blocks gave the Knights the 25-21 triumph.
The Fillies rolled through the second set, building an 8-1 lead off 6 straight service points by Jessica Horwath (8 kills).
Five more points from Jensen made it 14-3. Prospect never got closer than 10 points and setter Gwen Adler ( (18 assists) wrapped up the set with three consecutive service points, the final one on a kill by setter/OH Jenna Meitzler (5 kills, 10 assists) to make it 25-10.
Barrington didn't miss a beat in the third set as Adler once again helped paved the way at the line.
After a side out kill by Prospect junior Shelby Hiskes, Adler served 4 straight points for an 8-1 cushion in the decisive set.
A block by Berkeley Ploder (5 kills) and back-to-back aces by Molly Kozak (3 aces) increased the Fillies' lead to 15-6. Dunn's block gave Barrington a 20-7 advantage and moments later it was Campbell putting down the match winner.
Hope Regas added 4 kills for the Fillies.
"They did a really nice job in the last two sets," Jakubowski said. "I'm proud of them. They did what we had to do. Now we've got some work to do to get ready for next Tuesday (regional opener) and after that."
Prospect (16-14) will use their competitive play from set one to build upon.
"We did a nice job in the first set," said Prospect coach Laura Gerber. "Obviously, Barrington made quite a few service errors and we took advantage of that. But I told the kids, this is a learning experience. When you get beat, you have to turn around and get on to the next. Hopefully we will be a stronger team next Tuesday when we start the regional. I thought Lally Coleman did a really nice job blocking on the right side, She had quite a few solo blocks."