Rockets regroup 
to drop Indians

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MARENGO – Richmond-Burton’s girls volleyball team had seen this ultra-competitive side of Marengo.

The Indians had rolled it out against the Rockets during the two teams’ first meeting of the season Sept. 20, and Marengo took the reigning Big Northern Conference East Division champions into three sets before losing.

Marengo brought the same gutsy attitude that generally precedes an upset into Tuesday’s IHSA Class 3A Marengo Regional semifinal against R-B, and the second-seeded Rockets quickly were forced to look at what could happen if they didn’t adjust their game.

A few key changes in the second set helped offset R-B’s lackluster postseason opening. R-B beat third-seeded Marengo, 25-23, 25-8, to advance to the regional final against top-seeded Marian Central at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Marian beat fifth-seeded Woodstock in the other semifinal.

“I think they were just really nervous coming in here, knowing it’s regionals, knowing what’s at stake,” R-B coach Kaycee Kane said. “I know they really want to move on, and I think they were freaking out a little bit.”

The nerves and thoughts of the rematch with Marian certainly hurt the Rockets (29-7 overall) in Game 1.

Marengo (16-18) jumped ahead, 11-10, on a kill block from senior middle hitter Allison Rogutich (five kills) and forced an R-B timeout later when they led, 21-19.

The Rockets then rattled off five consecutive points, including two kills from Ali Frantti (15 kills) and an ace from libero Marissa Woodward to make it 24-21. Marengo earned sideout with a kill from senior middle Kourtney Heitz and made it 24-23 on an R-B hitting error, but Frantti’s kill gave the Rockets set point.

The Indians lost junior outside hitter Katie Ward down the stretch to a bloody nose, and it immediately affected Game 2.

Marengo never found a rhythm, R-B went up, 11-0, and never looked back.

“Our rotation and lineup was thrown off a little bit and I think it just kind of freaked everyone out,” Marengo coach Marissa Meyers said. “We fought hard in the first one.”

Marian Central 2, Woodstock 0: In the evening’s second semifinal, Marian Central wasted little time dispatching Woodstock (4-28). Senior setter Abby Gilleland had 15 assists and three blocks and junior middle hitter Meredith Patterson had five kills as the ’Canes got a 25-12, 25-9 win.

The Hurricanes (30-6) are looking forward to seeing R-B a fourth time too, coach Laura Watling said. Marian leads the series 3-0, and is intent on a second consecutive trip to the state finals. The Hurricanes finished third in Class 3A last year.

“We have really been coming together,” Watling said. “Everybody is playing their best volleyball right now.”

Woodstock senior outside hitter Brooke Marshall led the Blue Streaks with five kills. Senior setter Jenny Dillon added six assists.