Experience key to Whips' start

There have been a lot of contributing factors to the white-hot start the Hampshire girls volleyball team has gotten off to.

At the top of the list, it certainly doesn't hurt to have 5 returning starters from a 2006 group that went 26-9 and won the program's second straight regional championship.

But third-year Hampshire coach Karen Whitehouse has noticed something beyond the obvious with this year's group that was a spotless 13-0 heading into Big Northern Conference East Division play this week.

"I think we've got a different attitude from last year," said Whitehouse, a standout at Cary-Grove and Eastern Illinois University (as Karen Liss) during her playing days.

"People still didn't expect too much from Hampshire volleyball last year. When we came out and played as well and went as far as we did, it surprised a lot of people. The expectations have been raised now. People expect more out of us. We've got that winning attitude."

And the Whip-Purs have abundant talent to go with that attitude. Seniors Jenna Karkos (outside) and middle blockers Jackie Clai and Amber Ladwig all started last year, as did sophomore twins Amy Wehrs (outside) and Kara Wehrs (setter).

Senior Kim Kartheiser, a 3-year varsity performer, is a seasoned program veteran who was a defensive specialist last year and saw time on the right side as well. She also set in Hampshire's 6-2 formation as a sophomore.

The defense is further fortified (with an exclamation point) by returning senior libero Jen Kondrat, who broke the school record for digs last year (534) en route to earning all-conference honors along with Karkos and Amy Wehrs.

"We've got so many returning players," said Clai, a 3-year starter for the Whips, who have a number of players who compete with the highly successful Club Fusion and Sky High club teams.

"We play well together and each player is good at their own spot."

Where the Whip-Purs have particularly excelled is in the offensive department thanks to their hitting depth. To start the week, Amy Wehrs had nine matches of 8 of more kills, while Karkos had seven. With the depth Hampshire has, it's no wonder Kara Wehrs was averaging over 20 setting assists per match to start the week.

"It's tricky for the other team because it's hard for them to key their block," said Kondrat. "If they knew we only had one player, they could shut that person down. With us, if they try and shut down one person we have so many other options that can get us the kill and the point."

Whitehouse, who after the 13-0 start was 57-20 (.740 winning percentage) in her young high school coaching career, not only likes the depth she has on offense, but the way the offense has been running.

"We're very quick on offense," said Whitehouse, whose team has won tournament titles at Oregon and DeKalb this season.

"We're able to run a lot of quick plays at different positions. We've got girls who are comfortable hitting at any position. There are so many different options, which helps. The girls are running one of the most advanced offenses I have seen. It keeps the defense guessing. It's difficult for another team's blockers. It's difficult to find where people are going and who to say with. Any one of our hitters can get us a kill."

With so much experience back (and the fact some of the players have played together dating back to middle school), comes the natural chemistry aspect.

"We're all used to playing with each other," said Karkos. "We're around each other every day and we hang around outside of school. Everybody commits to the team and puts in so much for the team. That makes us so much better. Everybody here is pushing for the same thing."

Karkos said the team's experience and depth works on a number of levels.

"Having a good, all-around team is very important," said Karkos. "If one of those things is missing, you are in trouble. If you don't have good passers, you can't run a good offense and if you can't run a good offense, you can't score. We've got an all-around team and it's been working because we have everybody working hard for everything."

Hampshire's players have also thrived on Whitehouse's teachings.

"She was a great player," said Clai. "She's always showing us what she knows. She helps us out with something different every day."

"She knows when to get down to business," said Kondrat, a 4-year varsity player. "She knows how much potential we have and she pushes us to the max. She knows what she is doing. She gives us so many examples and stories. She knows what happens on the court and what should be done."

Whitehouse has stressed focusing on goals for the immediate future and not the long term.

"She always tells us that each practice and each match has a goal," said Karkos. "That pushes us to get better. You can only take steps at a time. But we want to push ourselves to go far with those goals."

Whitehouse was struck by the team's improvement during a summer camp event a few months back.

"We went to a team camp in the Wisconsin Dells," she said. "There were teams there like Barrington, St. Charles East, Sycamore and Prairie Ridge. We finished second. That's when it hit me. We're a (Class) 2A school competing with some of the top teams in the bigger divisions."

But while 13-0 sounds nice on paper, the Whips know 13 wins without a loss doesn't punch an automatic trip to the state finals.

"We're not going to go out there and go, 'Oh let's go undefeated,' " said Karkos. "We take each game as it comes and we will push hard. Nobody here wants to lose. Losing isn't an option because we want it so bad."

"We don't have a cocky team," said Kondrat. "Yes, we're (13-0), but we're going to keep pushing and working our butts off in practice. We're not messing around. We know if we get down, someone could beat us. We're not thinking that way. We know everybody out there could get us, so we need to keep improving and keep playing hard."