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Girls volleyball: Barrington continues getting it done in win over Fremd

Because of knee surgery her sophomore year, Sydney Louis played in only one or two matches the last two seasons for Barrington's girls volleyball team.

Just to be back on the court has the senior feeling great.

"It feels amazing," she said after Tuesday's 25-21, 25-4 triumph at Fremd.

It was Louis' amazing run that sealed the deal for the Fillies, who raised their record to 20-1 and 7-0 in the Mid-Suburban West.

The 6-foot-1 middle blocker recorded 5 of the visitors' last 7 seven points, either with a kill, tip or block in the most electrifying moment of her prep career.

"It was great, really her best moment," said Fillies coach Michelle Jakubowski. "She did a really good job. We went to our middle which we've really been trying to do all season. We haven't been able to do it much so it was great to see Sydney do it there."

Louis' tip to the open floor made it 18-3. She then got points 20 through 22 with a kill, block of an overpass and another tip.

Appropriately enough, her career-best fifth kill ended the match to give Barrington its second sweep of Fremd this fall.

Senior Jess Horwath led the Fillies with 8 kills while junior Hope Regas also added 5.

"Jess (Horwath) can do it all but we don't want (her) to have to do it all," Jakubowski said. "I think it's great that we passed better and Sydney was able to get the job done, hitting and tipping. She did a great job."

"I love my teammates and we're just having fun," said Louis. "It's just been slow for me coming back the last two seasons."

But now she is on the fast track, just like the Fillies who are trying to defend the MSL championship after placing third in the Class 4A state finals last fall.

Barrington jumped to 8-1 leads in each set.

However, Fremd battled back to within 11-9 in the first game, thanks to three straight aces by sophomore Ashley Brim.

The hosts (13-8, 4-3) kept it close and trailed only 23-21 before Barrington ended it with a kill from Jenna Meitzler (6 assists, 2 kills, 3 digs) and an ace from the Arizona recruit Horwath (6 digs, 2 aces).

"I was proud of the way we battled back but obviously we've got to work on coming off to a better start," said Fremd first-year coach Pete Gavin. "But they're really a good team. We're working on getting better every day. We've got some kids who are going to be coming back soon which will help and we're looking to make a push to get better here at the end of the season."

Junior Ellie Braun led Fremd with 3 kills while classmates Megan Spiekermann and Olivia Alexander each had two.

Senior setter Hallie Neill had 2 aces, 6 assists and one nifty second attack for a kill in the first set.

Senior Gwen Adler handed out 11 assists with 3 kills for Barrington while Berkeley Ploder added 3 kills. Molly Kozak chipped in 5 digs and 1 kill.

Jakubowski was hardly surprised by Louis' big effort at the end.

"Last year, she was still recovering from having the surgery on both knees during the COVID season," she said. "She played just a little but this season she is really coming on. She is working her butt off in practice. She usually shares the job with another middle (senior Caroline Petitgout) who sprained her ankle (Monday) so Sydney really has done a great job. Caroline will be back next week."

The Fillies lost standout Campbell Paris for the season to an injury.

"Hope Regas has done an outstanding job on the outside (with Paris out) with serving, passing and hitting," Jakubowski said. "We haven't missed a beat. We can't control who gets hurt and who doesn't but the girls have done an outstanding job of 'next-man-up' and saying 'we're going to do it.' This is the standard we have for this team and they're getting it done. I'm proud of them."

  Barrington's Molly Kozak digs out a Fremd serve during Tuesday's volleyball match in Palatine. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Ellie Braun hits into Barrington's Sydney Louis (24) during Tuesday's volleyball match in Palatine. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Hallie Neill (13) sets the ball during Tuesday's volleyball match against Barrington in Palatine. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Barrington's Jessica Horwath (2) celebrates a point against Fremd during Tuesday's volleyball match in Palatine. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Ashley Brim takes a Barrington serve during Tuesday's volleyball match in Palatine. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Barrington's Berkeley Ploder (10) blocks a hit by Fremd's Natasa Radisic (18) during Tuesday's volleyball match in Palatine. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Kate Pfister (21) and Olivia Alexander (19) celebrate a point against Barrington during Tuesday's volleyball match in Palatine. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
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