Inside Girls Volleyball

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Athlete of the week

Katie Trayser

CL South, Sr., outside hitter

Trayser was arguably the most consistent weapon on South’s offense during last weekend’s Nike Challenge in Chicago at Mother McAuley. Trayser led the defense as well, racking up 43 digs to go with 33 kills. The Gators finished the tournament 2-3, with losses to nationally revered Waukesha (Wis.) Catholic Memorial and Newport Harbor (Calif.) as well as Chicago Marist.

Noteworthy

Huntley puts itself in the mix: While the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division seemed like another race between Prairie Ridge and Crystal Lake Central, Huntley’s upset victory against Central last week put the Red Raiders back in the mix for a piece of the conference title.

Since joining the FVC in 2003, Huntley’s volleyball team hasn’t finished higher than third – which it did in 2006 with a 6-4 division record – and tied for sixth in 2003 with Cary-Grove and Crystal Lake South before the conference split into two divisions.

The win against the Tigers might have been a surprise for some around the area, but the Raiders have fared well in the tournaments they’ve entered, beating well-rounded teams such as Oswego and Batavia.

The Raiders XX to Johnsburg, XX-XX on Tuesday and will face Grayslake North on Thursday. Huntley gets another crack at Central on Oct. 16 but will have to beat the Tigers on their home court – never an easy feat.

Prairie Ridge, Central and Huntley are all 4-1 right now and at the top of the FVC Fox.

Also rolling: Cary-Grove, which is in first place in the FVC Valley, has played only two three-game matches this year.

The feat is not easy, considering the level of competition the Trojans have faced, and it is highly unlikely most teams make it through the season without having to play a handful of third games.

Central’s state championship team last season rolled to a 42-0 record and played only one three-game match all year.

Can’t miss matches

Johnsburg, Huntley, Jacobs and Marian Central at Huntley Invitational, 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday

Look for Johnsburg, which has been playing well lately, to pull of some big wins. Jacobs is also capable of an upset or two in this heavily local tournament.

Prairie Ridge at Mizuno Cup presented by St. Charles East, 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday in Aurora

A perennially potent tournament, the Wolves keep in step with their goal to play in some of the state’s toughest events each weekend.

Harvard at Hampshire, 6 p.m. Tuesday

Harvard upset the Whip-Purs in the teams’ first meeting of the season, but Hampshire will look to even the score in the rematch.

Prairie Ridge at CL Central, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

Central won at Prairie Ridge last time, and the Wolves want to even things up in this intense FVC Fox rivalry.