CL Central exceeds expectations

Crystal Lake Central's Julie Jeziorowski digs the ball during Wednesday's practice. Central plays in the IHSA Class 3A state semifinals Friday. (Nick Dentamaro - ndentamaro@nwherald.com)

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CRYSTAL LAKE – If he’d been asked at the beginning of the season, Crystal Lake Central girls volleyball coach Doug Blundy likely would have shaken his head.

The Tigers, although talented, weren’t predicted to make this big of a run. It’s not easy to maneuver through the volleyball postseason, especially with other powerhouse teams standing between Central and a berth in today’s Class 3A state semifinals at Redbird Arena in Normal.

But the Tigers handled the postseason with a poise Blundy expects from all his teams. It has earned the Tigers their second trip to the state semifinals in three seasons; Central will face Joliet Catholic at 5:30 p.m. today in a state semifinal.

“I didn’t think we’d be this good,” Blundy said. “ ... You don’t expect to be 37-3, which is pretty close to one of the best records in the state. I’ve been pleasantly surprised.”

The Tigers started the season slowly, pulling out to a 2-2 mark during the first week, but since have gone 35-1, shared the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division title with Prairie Ridge and won regional, sectional and supersectional titles.

“Right when the season started, we struggled a little,” senior middle hitter Lindsay Anderson said. “But once we put it into gear, we really got it going the way we knew we could.”

Vaunted Joliet Catholic’s record (39-1) and rapport – the Angels are the reigning Class 3A state champions – only intrigue Central’s players.

“We are not at all intimidated,” senior libero Julie Jeziorowski said. “They seem like they are already preparing to play for a state title again. That just makes us want to beat them even more.

“We know they’re fighting for it. But what they don’t realize is we’re fighting just as hard.”

The Tigers’ aforementioned talent was plentiful this season, but Central might have more heart than anything else.

The T-shirts the team made up to commemorate its accomplishment thus far perhaps sums up the season best. The word “Composure” is printed in orange neatly across the front, and the back reads, “This is what happens when you play with heart.”

“Our girls expected to do the same thing as the [2007 state title team],” Blundy said. “It’s been extremely pleasant to see. ... You know every single match that these girls are going to play with a lot of energy and as a group.”

The Tigers will need to use every option they have against the Angels.

Joliet Catholic lost one starter from last season’s team and has not lost to an Illinois team this season. The Angels will rely on outside hitter Annemarie Hickey and setter Jennifer Murphy to defend a 44-match winning streak against Illinois teams.

Central, since rattling off its 35-1 performance, has an active 31-match winning streak and has been pushed to three sets only five times in that span.

The Tigers know they are underdogs, but Blundy said he thought they were underdogs in 2007, too.

“We think there are a lot of things Joliet Catholic can do against us,” Blundy said. “But we think there are some things we can do, too, to stop them, and some things they might not be able to stop. I like being the underdog. I’d take that anytime.”

“We’ll have to put up a good block on their outsides, be strong at the net and have the defense to go along with it,” junior setter Tracy Friel said. “But our defense and our serve-receive has always been strong. We know they are a good team, but we just have to focus and play a strong match.”