Girls volleyball: Barrington repeats history, tops Glenbrook South for sectional title

With his team circled around him during a game in the football movie Remember the Titans, coach Bill Yoast delivered one of the greatest speeches in the history of sports movies. In it, he told his defense, "You make sure they remember, forever, the night they played the Titans." T.C. Williams of Northern Virginia went on to win the game in the movie in dominant fashion.

It was a similar energy in Lake County on Wednesday night, as the Titans of Glenbrook South (32-2) faced off against the Barrington Broncos (38-1). But ultimately, Barrington will remember the night they played the Titans and not for the reasons the Titans wanted, as the Broncos came out on top in two sets (26-24, 25-19), clinching the Class 4A Warren sectional title.

"[I'll remember it] forever. Forever," said Barrington senior captain Jess Horwath. "It's the best team, so much trust, so much love for each other. Energy is so great, no matter what's going on, we're always here for each other."

As is the case with most memorable reporting events, there was just no way that this contest wasn't going to be close. Even in only two sets. The first set even exceeded 25 points. After swapping leads multiple times throughout the first 48 points, it was deadlocked at 24-all. Sets are to 25, but a team must win by two.

"We were up 21-18 in the first set and then let that get away from us," said Barrington coach Michelle Jakubowski. "But we battled back. Got that 26-24."

"I told them [in the] second set, [Glenbrook South's] gonna come out on fire, and they did with a 4-0 run, but then we battled back. We took the lead, and we never looked back."

Jakubowski makes it sound simple, but, according to her, that's just what this team does: "Get it done."

Between the two final set scores and on opposite sides of the net Wednesday night was also a clash of Titans (or one Titan and one Bronco). Glenbrook South junior Ava Pratt was the key defensive focus for Barrington, and Horwath was just that for Glenbrook South.

"She's great," Horwath said of Pratt. "She's so good. I really love that. Keeping each other on our toes, making each defense really work, bringing the power, it's a lot of fun."

In the end, Horwath recorded two of her team's final three points (one block, one kill) to clinch the sectional title - the second consecutive season in which Barrington has done so, and the second consecutive season in which they have done so against Glenbrook South.

But this one won't last as long in Jakubowski's mind as it will for Horwath.

"Tonight, I'll start scouting whoever [we're] gonna play," Jakubowski said.

That would be Huntley, who Barrington will play Friday night in the Class 4A Dundee-Crown supersectional looking for a spot at next weekend's state tournament.