Trojans’ first

Cary-Grove's Colleen Hargrove (left) and Casey Groschinski (right) celebrate with the rest of the Trojans after they defeated Lyons Township during the IHSA Class 4A championship game at Illinois State University's Redbird Arena in Normal. Cary-Grove defeated the Lions, 25-23, 25-17. (Lauren M. Anderson – landerson@nwherald.com)

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NORMAL – The sign read, “Individually talented; collectively lethal.”

A fan waved it earnestly as Cary-Grove’s volleyball team began its Class 4A state title match against Lyons on Saturday at Redbird Arena. The Trojans had spent all season trying to show Illinois that they collectively could not just play volleyball, but they were capable of doing something never before accomplished at Cary-Grove: Win a state title.

As soon as it was over and Colleen Hargrove had served the final ace, there was nothing left to prove.

There was plenty, however, to celebrate.

The Trojans, as a team with stellar individual contributions, made its mark on Saturday night, winning the program and school’s first state title with a 25-23, 25-17 victory against the Lions.

C-G’s players never doubted they could accomplish greatness, but even as the realization of all the Trojans had done began to settle in, the triumph still was too great to believe.

“It’s indescribable,” outside hitter Kelly Lamberti said. “I’m completely speechless.”

From the time this team started its camps over the summer, coach Patty Langanis knew it was a special group.

All 16 players on the roster bought into the notion that a state title was within reach. All 16 players walked across the podium to receive their gold medals Saturday night knowing that even the biggest dreams are attainable.

“As a coach, this is a dream come true,” Langanis said. “At times you wonder if you’ll ever be able to play for a state title. I so dearly adore the 16 players on this team that, to have this group come down and win it all like this, it’s a story-book ending for them.”

Like most dreams realized, little went wrong for the Trojans (38-4) against the Lions (37-5).

C-G jumped out to an early lead in the first set, 6-3, and did not panic when the Lions rallied to a 7-6 advantage.

C-G’s Colleen Smith rattled off four points, including an ace – C-G’s signature the whole weekend, the Trojans tallied nine against Lyons – to take a four-point lead, 11-7, and force a timeout.

Later, with Lyons leading, 16-15, Lamberti, smacked down one of her match-high 12 kills to earn side out and setter Abbey Heredia stepped to the service line, serving the Trojans to a five-point lead, 21-16.

“We felt good about this match from the beginning,” Heredia said. “In the second set, I thought we really got into a groove. We all had one another’s backs and were pushing.”

Hargrove helped C-G win the first set with an ace and fittingly sealed the Trojans’ state title win in the same fashion.

Hargrove (three aces) wasn’t in the Trojans’ service rotation at the beginning of the season, making the two points one of the biggest highlights of the senior middle blocker’s weekend.

“I wasn’t consistent enough,” Hargrove said. “But everything just started clicking for me in the postseason.”

For the fans in navy blue and white who filled the stands, for the community that had reached out in unfailing support and for her teammates, Heredia (16 assists) was bursting with pride.

“It’s amazing to end the season with tears of joy,” she said. “I’ve spent the last three years ending my seasons with disappointment. To end like this, to be one of two teams in this class who gets to end their season with a win, I can’t believe it. It’s incredible.”
NORMAL – The sign read, “Individually talented; collectively lethal.”

A fan waved it earnestly as Cary-Grove’s volleyball team began its Class 4A state title match against Lyons on Saturday at Redbird Arena. The Trojans had spent all season trying to show Illinois that they collectively could not just play volleyball, but they were capable of doing something never before accomplished at Cary-Grove: Win a state title.

As soon as it was over and Colleen Hargrove had served the final ace, there was nothing left to prove.

There was plenty, however, to celebrate.

The Trojans, as a team with stellar individual contributions, made its mark on Saturday night, winning the program and school’s first state title with a 25-23, 25-17 victory against the Lions.

C-G’s players never doubted they could accomplish greatness, but even as the realization of all the Trojans had done began to settle in, the triumph still was too great to believe.

“It’s indescribable,” outside hitter Kelly Lamberti said. “I’m completely speechless.”

From the time this team started its camps over the summer, coach Patty Langanis knew it was a special group.

All 16 players on the roster bought into the notion that a state title was within reach. All 16 players walked across the podium to receive their gold medals Saturday night knowing that even the biggest dreams are attainable.

“As a coach, this is a dream come true,” Langanis said. “At times you wonder if you’ll ever be able to play for a state title. I so dearly adore the 16 players on this team that, to have this group come down and win it all like this, it’s a story-book ending for them.”

Like most dreams realized, little went wrong for the Trojans (38-4) against the Lions (37-5).

C-G jumped out to an early lead in the first set, 6-3, and did not panic when the Lions rallied to a 7-6 advantage.

C-G’s Colleen Smith rattled off four points, including an ace – C-G’s signature the whole weekend, the Trojans tallied nine against Lyons – to take a four-point lead, 11-7, and force a timeout.

Later, with Lyons leading, 16-15, Lamberti, smacked down one of her match-high 12 kills to earn side out and setter Abbey Heredia stepped to the service line, serving the Trojans to a five-point lead, 21-16.

“We felt good about this match from the beginning,” Heredia said. “In the second set, I thought we really got into a groove. We all had one another’s backs and were pushing.”

Hargrove helped C-G win the first set with an ace and fittingly sealed the Trojans’ state title win in the same fashion.

Hargrove (three aces) wasn’t in the Trojans’ service rotation at the beginning of the season, making the two points one of the biggest highlights of the senior middle blocker’s weekend.

“I wasn’t consistent enough,” Hargrove said. “But everything just started clicking for me in the postseason.”

For the fans in navy blue and white who filled the stands, for the community that had reached out in unfailing support and for her teammates, Heredia (16 assists) was bursting with pride.

“It’s amazing to end the season with tears of joy,” she said. “I’ve spent the last three years ending my seasons with disappointment. To end like this, to be one of two teams in this class who gets to end their season with a win, I can’t believe it. It’s incredible.”