Volleyball

The college commitment derby came to a close for volleyball standouts Kelly Lamberti and Kelsey Nobilio on Friday.

CARY – The first thing Kayla Klinger noticed about Charleston Southern University was its campus.

The more Amanda Carroll saw of Spartanburg, S.C., and South Carolina Upstate on her two visits, the more she realized it was the place for her to continue her volleyball career.

For two seasons, Jacie Fiedler had a starting spot for DePaul University’s volleyball team and went to school in a city of almost 3 million people.

Athlete of the Year: Kelly Lamberti, Cary-Grove, jr., outside hitter

CARY – Something felt completely different with this year’s Cary-Grove girls volleyball team, and coach Patty Langanis noticed it last spring.

CARY – Two points stood between Glenbrook South and a chance to play for the IHSA Class 4A state title during the semifinal match Nov. 13 at Redbird Arena in Normal.

CARY – It had all seemed like a fairy tale until the bus pulled into Fox River Grove and the police, ambulance and fire truck procession greeted Cary-Grove’s girls volleyball team to give the Trojans an escort back to the high school.

NORMAL – There were about 700 teams gunning for an appearance in the Class 2A state volleyball finals.

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

NORMAL – When it all was said and done, the final point of the match played and the tears shed, there really wasn’t much to lament.

The Trojans volleyball team rocked state over the weekend and come away state champions! Way to go girls!

NORMAL – Chicago Christian’s girls volleyball players couldn’t believe they were losing the first set to Harvard in their IHSA Class 2A state semifinal Friday at Redbird Arena.

NORMAL – If moral victories counted toward overall records, Crystal Lake Central would be advancing to the state championship match today.

NORMAL – When Glenbrook South had Cary-Grove’s girls volleyball team facing a five-point deficit, the Titans reminded themselves that an appearance in the state title match was all they wanted this season.

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.

HARVARD – All Marcy Nystrom remembers is jubilance, satisfaction and bewilderment.

CARY – There have been other talented teams that have come through Cary-Grove’s girls volleyball program, but perhaps none with as much focus.

A look at the non-local teams in the IHSA Class 2A, 3A and 4A Girls Volleyball State Tournaments:

The Rant could not be more proud of our local teams in both volleyball and football. The fact that so many of ‘em are still playin’ says a lot about the level of play in this county and the hard work they put in.

The Big Northern Conference announced its 2009-10 all-conference girls volleyball players Tuesday.

Around the Northwest Herald office, many years ago, we started referring to the first weekend in November as “Super Saturday.”

GRAYSLAKE – The chants started between the first and second sets and echoed through Grayslake Central’s field house.

ST. CHARLES – Paint the town navy and white.

SPRING VALLEY – Not once. Or twice.

With one victory standing between three local volleyball teams and a berth in the IHSA state semifinals next weekend in Normal, Crystal Lake Central, Cary-Grove and Harvard are preparing to face their competition in supersectional matches today.

VERNON HILLS – Lindsey Anderson didn’t need a full-power strike to score the Crystal Lake Central volleyball team’s final point to defeat St. Viator in Thursday’s Class 3A Vernon Hills Sectional final.

OREGON – Coming into Thursday’s IHSA Class 2A Oregon Sectional final, the Harvard girls volleyball team didn’t know a lot about its opponent, Savanna West Carroll, but for coach Kelly Brierley’s Hornets, it didn’t matter.

HUNTLEY – Sometimes when a moment has taken so long to arrive, it doesn’t live up to the grandiose expectations.

VERNON HILLS – Lindsey Anderson had a good feeling about the Crystal Lake Central volleyball team’s chances against Wauconda on Tuesday right when the

HUNTLEY – Huntley sophomore libero Amy Dion came up with the perfect shot at the most opportune time.

ROCHELLE – Marian Central’s hopes of a deep postseason run ended Tuesday.

By ANDREW HANSEN

Six local girls volleyball teams won regionals last week and will start the second round of the playoffs in their respective sectionals tonight.

CRYSTAL LAKE – When a team knows little other than success, the likelihood that its members will accept failure is slim.

BURLINGTON – The end of the road and an era came unceremoniously Saturday. Hampshire’s volleyball team carefully outlined its primary goal – a berth in the Class 3A state volleyball semifinals – at the start of the season, and the centerpieces of the Whip-Purs’ offense, senior twins Amy and Kara Wehrs, thought it was attainable.

Athlete of the week

SCHAUMBURG – For a third consecutive year, the Cary-Grove boys cross country team is headed to the IHSA Class 3A State Cross Country Meet in Peoria.

BARRINGTON – Cary-Grove’s volleyball team had been in this position before.

BARRINGTON – For the Cary-Grove girls volleyball team, the No. 1 seed in the IHSA Class 4A Barrington Regional carries some pressure.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Crystal Lake Central’s girls volleyball team showed North Chicago no mercy Thursday in the semifinals of the Tigers’ own IHSA Class 3A regional.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Between two of the most intense sets Huntley’s volleyball team has played this season, the Red Raiders made a decision.

There are few areas with more volleyball talent than McHenry County, and everything local players have worked for during the past two months culminates in the playoffs.

In baseball parlance, Kevin Kaczmarski’s list of colleges in which he was most interested sprayed to all fields.

CARY – The Cary-Grove girls volleyball team completed a perfect Fox Valley Conference Valley Division season Thursday, as the Trojans beat Dundee-Crown, 25-16, 25-11.

ALGONQUIN – If Huntley’s girls volleyball team can play as well as it has this season without its best possible lineup, imagining what it might be able to do when the Red Raiders are at full strength is exciting for coach Michelle Jakubowski and her team.

CRYSTAL LAKE – “Reliable” and “resilient” might have described Kayla Klinger’s play this season for Cary-Grove’s volleyball team.

BURLINGTON – Two minutes into Tuesday’s IHSA Class 2A Burlington Central Regional semifinal boys soccer match, Johnsburg looked finished.

BURLINGTON – Hampshire’s girls volleyball team wanted to take home the grand prize and had to settle with the lovely parting gifts.

WHEATON – Marian Central’s hopes for a Suburban Christian Conference Blue Division girls volleyball title took a hit Monday with a 25-16, 25-14 loss to St. Francis.