Girls volleyball roundup: Hoffman Estates wins 1st regional in 32 years
It's been 32 years but Hoffman Estates has reached a girls volleyball sectional for the fifth time in program history.
Coach Pat Moran's No. 4-seeded Hawks (26-10) will return to their home floor for the Class 4A sectional semifinal on Monday, thanks to a 28-26, 23-25, 25-15 victory over No. 5 Buffalo Grove on Thursday night at the BG regional championship.
Hoffman will face No. 1 Barrington in Monday's semifinal at 6 p.m.
The Hawks' other regional titles were in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1991 along with a district title in 1979.
The Bison (17-18) were led on attack by Adeline Sirbu (6 kills), Maddie Halter (6 kills), Cami Damm (5 kills) and Tetianna Kutsyk (5 kills) while setter Nishka Patil handed out 21 assists with 8 digs.
Hersey d. Schaumburg: No. 3 Hersey won the Class 4A Streamwood regional 25-20, 25-12 over No. 6 Schaumburg.
"The girls played great and with confidence," said second-year Huskies coach Laura Gerber, after the Huskies won their 29th regional. "They followed the game plan and took control of the match early in the second set. Our back row with Sofia Phillips, Sophia Rizzo and Elizabeth Avirmed was great. That let our setter Eileen Chavez set a great game. I'm so proud of the team."
Hersey will face No. 2 Stevenson in Monday's 7 p.m. semifinal of the Hoffman Estates sectional.
Barrington d. Lake Zurich: Top-seeded in the Class 4A Hoffman Estates sectional, Mid-Suburban League champion Barrington won its own regional by taking a 25-17, 25-19 decision over No, 8 Lake Zurich (15-17) and will face No. 4 Hoffman Estates Monday.
By winning its third straight and 17th regional in program history, coach Michelle Jakubowski's Fillies improved to 33-5.
Leading the way were Molly Kozak (6 digs, 1 aces, 10 points), Whitney Mall (3 kills), Gwen Adler (20 assists, 4 points, 2 kill), Jenna Meitzler (7 assists, 9 kills, 3 digs, 4 points, 1 block), Addie Brookbank (2 digs), Berkeley Ploder (6 kills, 1 block), Sarah Jensen (3 points, 8 digs), Mia Modugno (3 points), Molly O'Riordan (1 kill, 1 block) and Anna Gustafson (1 block).
Stevenson def. Rolling Meadows: Hoffman Estates sectional No. 2 seed Stevenson (30-7) won the Larkin regional with a 25-13, 25-18 over No. 7 Rolling Meadows (21-15).
The Pats will face No., 3 Hersey at 7 p.m. in Monday's semifinals.
Brynn Smith (11 kills, 1 ace, 5 digs) and Mija Jegers (9 kills, 2 aces, 7 digs) led the attack for the North Suburban co-champions who won the program's 29th regional and first since 2020.
"Brynn Smith had an efficient night (11 kills on 22 attempts)," said Pats coach Tim Crow who won his 602nd match. "We had some timely blocks and were able to side out effectively most the night. Rachel Shin (setter with 14 assists) was on spot with her decision making."
Wheaton St. Francis d Vernon Hills: No. 1 seeded St. Francis posted a 25-9, 25-14 victory over the No. 8 Cougars (17-19) at the Class 3A Ridgewood regional.
"Our season ended against a solid and well-balanced St. Francis squad," said VH coach Max Spiglanin. "Our defense came alive late in the second set with some big blocks and timely digs, but it wasn't enough to stop the firepower St. Francis was bringing."
VH was led by Maya Raval (9 assists, 1 block, 2 digs), Ronnie Ramirez (4 kills, 3 digs, 2 blocks), Morgan Hart (4 kills, 3 digs, 3 blocks) and Emily Hammond (1 ace, 5 digs).
Deerfield d. St. Viator: No. 3 seeded Deerfield rallied past the No. 7 Lions 15-25, 28-26, 24-26 in the Warriors' Class 3A regional championship.
"It was a fantastic match of back and forth volleyball," said SV coach Charlie Curtin. "Two teams that fought to the end. I'm proud of how the girls came out fighting after the first set and didn't give up throughout the night."
Leading Viator (16-17) were Erin Lynch (12 kills, 1 ace, 8 digs, 1 block), Avery Albritton (9 kills, 2 blocks), Paige Oberbroeckling (16 assists, 2 aces, 3 digs), Alexis Horn (5 kills, 5 digs), Lucy Drake (1 ace, 12 digs), Brianna Tousey (16 assists, 1 ace, 2 digs), Hannah Mills (1 kill, 3 blocks) and Sydney Mittel (5 kills, 3 digs, 1 block
Libertvyille d. McHenry: Libertyville won the Grant regional 21-25, 26-24, 26-24 for the program's 27th regional crown. The Wildcats will face Rockton Hononegah at 6 p.m. on Monday at the Huntley sectional.
Jaimie Marquardt (24 assists 5 kills, 23 digs), Stella Meyer (9 kills 11 digs 4 aces), Charlie Fleegle (25 digs), Mia Colton (3 aces, 10 digs), Hannah Fleming (8 kills, 2 aces, 11 digs), Avery Maddux (4 kills, 6 blocks), Sky Rohrbach (7 digs) and Kylie Hughes (5 kills, 2 blocks, 3 digs) led the way.
"We had tenacious defense and great serving to keep us in it and got a huge block at 24-24 by Avery Maddux in the third set to help set up the championship," said Libertyville coach Greg Loika.
Warren d. Jacobs: No. 2 Warren (25-10) won the Class 4A Jacobs regional with a 25-22, 25-27, 26-25 triumph over the host and No. 3-seeded Golden Eagles.
It marked the 15th time the Blue Devils have won a regional and first since 2021. They will face Huntley in Monday's 7 p.m. semifinal of the Huntley sectional.
Carmel d. Lakes: No. 4 Carmel rallied to win its own Class 3A regional 22-25, 25-18, 25-17 over top-seeded Lakes for its 15th regional title and first since 2019.
Abbey Sullivan (9 kills, 4 blocks, 3 digs), Bella Lucero (8 kills, 9/9 serving, 9 digs), Claire Parker (22 assists, 2 kills) and Isa Swiatkowski (19 digs, 3 aces, 15/15 in serve-receive) led the way.
"Huge respect to Lakes and their coaching staff," said Carmel coach Dave Pazely. "They made some adjustments which forced us to shift our defense. It was a great chess match."
Carmel will face No. 2 Belvidere North in Monday's 6 p.m. semifinal of the Class 3A Woodstock North sectional.
"We will enjoy this win tonight but it's back to work tomorrow as we prepare for Belvedere North on Monday," Pazely said.
Maine South d. Niles West: Maine South took a 25-20, 25-13 victory to win the Niles West 4A regional. The Hawks will face New Trier in Monday's 6 p.m. semifinal of the Glenbrook South sectional.