Girls volleyball: Willowbrook, St. Charles East on postseason collision course

It's time for the IHSA girls volleyball state playoffs, and if you think Willowbrook junior setter and right side Calli Kenny has some nerves because her team is once again a No. 1 seed, you'd be wrong.

"I think being a No. 1 seed gives us a lot of confidence," said Kenny, whose 33-2 team is the top seed in the Proviso West sectional, and could be in a position to face No. 2 seed St. Charles East in the sectional final Nov. 2.

"It's a confidence thing, and with that confidence and connecting, we're in a good direction going into the playoffs."

Now, contrast that with St. Charles East senior middle Natalie Rush, who isn't non-confident, but realizes the stakes are high.

"I'm trying to put a lot of pressure on myself, because it's my last season here," she said. "If I don't put any pressure on myself, I wouldn't try."

But is it - or can it be - fun?

"Yeah, it should be," Rush said. "It should be fun unless we don't make it fun for ourselves. It's all up to us, I think."

St. Charles North coach Lindsey Hawkins, whose 27-8 team is a No. 1 subsectional seed in the Harlem sectional, said that there's a healthy amount of pressure for her team, but there is something else.

"I think it gives the girls a little swagger that other teams think they are that good to be the No. 1 seed," Hawkins said. "But then you have to live up to that."

St. Charles North may be in a position to meet No. 2 seed Huntley in the sectional semifinal. The Red Raiders have gotten solid play from sophomore libero Mari Rodriguez, who has stepped into that role due to an MCL tear to senior starter Luma Acevedo.

Another interesting sectional is at Plainfield North, where Benet is the top seed, with No. 2 seed the Class 4A state champions from a year ago, Metea Valley.

The Redwings sit at 30-4 and have plenty of depth to overwhelm opponents, said coach Brad Baker. The team has a Big Three of senior outside hitter Gabija Staniskis, junior outside hitter Ava Novak and sophomore libero Aniya Warren.

Metea Valley coach Dave MacDonald said while there are discussions about last year's state title among his 23-9 club, it's a new year and a new team, but the mindset is the same.

Senior libero Brenda Reynaga agrees with that assessment.

"Last year set an expectation for this program and for years into the future, but honestly, this is almost a completely new team," she said.

At 20-10, Lake Park earned one of the best seeds in program history at No. 3 in the Fremd sectional. Senior middle Cailin Shannon said while the season has had ups and downs, it is peaking at the right time.

"We fell into a little slump, and it was go time for the team, and we're working hard going into the postseason," she said.

In Class 3A, St. Francis finds itself the No. 2 seed in its subsectional and if it wins its regional, it could face top seed Woodstock North in the sectional semifinal Oct. 31 at Burlington Central.

At 24-1, IC Catholic Prep finds itself a No. 1 subsectional seed in the Chicago Christ the King sectional. While the Knights have been led by junior outside hitter Ava Falduto, keep your eye on two sophomores that will likely make some noise in the playoffs, according to coach Nancy Kerrigan - middle blocker Delilah Hyland and outside hitter Kiely Kemph.

Both youngsters are ready to roll in their first playoff action. Again the question: Will it be pressure-packed, or fun?

"I think it's a good mix of both," Kemph said. "It's most certainly going to be a lot of fun. The nerves kind of come with it. Hopefully we'll navigate where we want to."