GIRLS VOLLEYBALL NOTEBOOK: Browder playing with confidence after switch
A switch from middle blocker to outside hitter has sparked Katie Browder this season.
The Indian Creek senior was primarily at middle last season to utilize her height on defense. However, a switch has caused an increase on both sides of the net, especially on offense.
Indian Creek coach Stephanie Crutcher said Browder's move has helped her confidence in her final season at Indian Creek.
"She is liking being on the sides more than being in the middle because it gives her more chances to hit," Crutcher said. "We kept her blocking, but she has played with more confidence because she is hitting better."
Browder's move also has forced opponents to switch their strategy on offense, Crutcher said.
The change helped the Timberwolves in a 25-19, 25-23 loss to Hinckley-Big Rock on Tuesday, as Indian Creek had its hands on 21 kills. The Timberwolves (8-19 overall, 4-4 Little Ten Conference) finished with seven blocks.
"When you get your hands on that many, it slows the ball down for your own team, but it is something the other team has to work around," Indian Creek coach Stephanie Crutcher said.
Loren Goodrich also had her hand on seven H-BR kills Tuesday.
"She didn't get a block, but her touches is helping with our offense," Crutcher said.
More firsts for H-BR: Hinckley-Big Rock continued to add more to its long list of accomplishments over the past two seasons with its two-game win over Indian Creek on Tuesday.
The Royals won their 23rd match of the season, which extended the program's mark for most wins in a season. H-BR broke the record last season with 19 wins. The win over Indian Creek handed Hinckley-Big Rock a perfect 8-0 record and its first Little Ten Conference regular-season championship. The Royals also won the LTC Tournament title in October.
Sycamore on pace for 30 wins: With two more victories, Sycamore would notch its first 30-win season since claiming 40 wins in its third-place season in 2007. Thirty-win seasons have been a goal for the Spartans since coach Debbie Klock started the run in 2000.
Sycamore has notched at least 30 wins in six seasons since the start of the decade. The Spartans (28-5) close out the regular season tonight at Glenbard South before facing Burlington Central at the IHSA Class 3A Burlington Central Regional on Oct. 29.
Sycamore will enter tonight's road contest against Glenbard South without libero Justine Schepler, who missed Tuesday's victory over Batavia with a twisted ankle. Klock moved Sarah Verkler to libero, Kate Binder to outside hitter and Stephanie Huber to middle blocker to fill Schepler's void.
Klock was pleased with Verkler's play at libero.
"She was definitely passing as well as Justine," Klock said. "Sarah had only two bad passes on serve receive the entire match. She stepped up right to the plate."
Cogs see improvements: The season might not have gone the way Genoa-Kingston coach Tiffany Sitarz wanted, but she has seen improvements on the court as the season has progressed.
Inexperience and youth has slowed the Cogs' season, but Sitarz said she has seen an increase in drive and intensity.
"I see that drive because they see themselves getting better," Sitarz said. "The coaches are saying the same thing compared to past years. They are building and they see it."
The Cogs fell to 0-5 in the Big Northern Conference West Division after suffering a 25-22, 21-25, 25-12 defeat to Byron on Tuesday. Gretchen Freise led the offense with 11 kills, while Volkening dished off 23 assists. Rachel Ellstrom had seven blocks.
"I've seen it little by little, but they see how close they are getting and they want it more and more," Sitarz said. "We've lost to every team but one by two to five points. They can see how close they are to getting over that hump, they just need to learn how to finish."
Genoa-Kingston will honor four seniors tonight when it hosts Stillman Valley.
Catrine Capek, Danielle Ellstrom, Lauren Volkening and Kylie Vanda will play their final regular-season home game tonight.
