Heartbreak for C-G

Cary-Grove's Alex Larsen (left) and Korey Kronforst react after losing Saturday's IHSA Class 4A state championship match against Benet Academy at Redbird Arena in Normal. (Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com)

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NORMAL – As the Cary-Grove volleyball team celebrated with its fans handing off the Class 4A runner-up trophy to the student section, the Trojans knew how close they came to winning another state title.

The Trojans put themselves in a position few expected entering the state championship match against Benet, forcing a third game after recovering from a first-set loss. But with the game tied 10-10 after senior outside Ashley Rosch’s ace, C-G uncharacteristically fell apart. Benet went on a 13-0 run, and despite the Trojans’ best effort to hold off the Redwings, C-G lost 25-14, 22-25, 25-16, in the title match.

“Against a team like Benet, we can’t make mistakes. We had to play perfect volleyball,” C-G coach Patty Langanis said. “Our hitters had to take some big risks and take huge swings against one of the biggest blocks we’ve ever seen.”

C-G (37-5) claimed back-to-back second-place finishes and the senior class ends their careers with three

“I feel like we came out with a lot of heart,” Rosch said. “They’re obviously the more talented group. They have amazing players so we definitely played with a lot of heart in that second game.”

Still, the Trojans knew they had Benet (39-3) on their heels after forcing a Game 3 but couldn’t take advantage.

“The sting is there, obviously we wanted to win it but the big picture is that we’ve been in the state finals for three years in a row,” Langanis said. “We’re so proud of that. This is probably the group that had to work the hardest to get there. Nothing came easy to them.”

The stage and circumstances couldn’t be any bigger for the first ever meeting between the two programs. C-G’s state final appearance for a third consecutive season is a first for a public school since Downers Grove South (1992-94).

Still, the Trojans’ let up following Rosch’s game-tying ace surprised Langanis especially considering their mental toughness this season. Normally the ones to thrive under pressure, it was instead Benet who stepped up with the match up for grabs.

Benet’s Haggerty sisters overpowered C-G. Six-foot-3 senior middle blocker Meghan Haggerty was virtually unstoppable, tallying seven kills in Game 1 and finished with a match-high 18 while sophomore outside hitter Maddie Haggerty added 16 kills. Meghan Haggerty’s effectiveness off quick sets gave C-G’s block little time to get in position, leaving the Trojans’ defense exposed.

Langanis cited Benet’s defense and serve receive as one of the Redwings’ only weakness. Their aggressive serving resulted in four aces but also led to three service errors. During the Redwings’ third game run, C-G was helpless in stopping their challenging serves.

“We were just having a horrible time getting a pass off serve receive,” Langanis said. “We had a great play set up. Melanie was ready to put the ball away but we were just running out of system like crazy.

“[The Redwings] are too good of a team to give them anything that’s not an aggressive shot.”

The Trojans played like the experienced team they are in Game 2, staving off a furious Redwings rally. Benet went on a 10-2 run to close within two points, 21-19. C-G senior middle blocker Sheila Wilhelmi stopped the bleeding, though, pounding a kill off a slide set and landing a block to put the Trojans ahead 23-19. Rosch’s back row kill sealed their Game 2 win.

Benet went back to the successful formula that spurred their Game 1: a heavy dosage of Meghan and Maddie Haggerty. C-G tried their hardest to slow them down, but during the Redwings’ 13-point run, the duo accounted for nine of the team’s points.

“They have extremely fast arm swings and so much power,” Jereb said. “With that run they just kept playing great volleyball.”