Postseason work
By JOHN SAHLY
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jsahly@daily-chronicle.com
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| Hinckley-Big Rock’s Cassie Rickert (2) celebrates with her teammates after a kill in the second game of a Class 1A Westminster Christian Regional match against Mooseheart on Wednesday night in Elgin. The Royals won, 25-15, 25-11, to advance to Saturday’s championship match. (Rob Winner – rwinner@daily-chronicle.com ) |
ELGIN – Hinckley-Big Rock knew that, barring disaster, its season would not come to an end Wednesday night.
So with a winnable game in front of the Royals, H-BR volleyball coach Don Watson took the opportunity to have his team work on a few new things during its 25-15, 25-11 victory against Mooseheart at the Class 1A Westminster Christian Regional semifinal match.
"We're trying to incorporate some different approaches with the spikes," Watson said. "We really tried to work that. We want to work on it so when we get to those teams that are much better we can do it."
Senior hitter Cassie Kroner, who had three aces and two kills, said she was a little nervous about the new plays but felt the team handled it well.
"We've practiced them but to actually run them, it's a whole different game," she said. "I think they did pretty good. I was working really hard on making sure that I get it. That was one of my main goals."
The Royals (24-8-1) never trailed against the Ramblers (4-13) and quickly jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first game. Mooseheart had finished defeating Hiawatha in the regional quarterfinal less than an hour before the start of its match against H-BR.
"It's exhausting," Mooseheart coach Kristin Schuman said. "It takes all of your energy. We came into the first game saying we had to win it in two so we could conserve as much energy as possible. They're really good. They're No. 1 in our regional for a reason."
Senior hitter Jenna Thorp had six kills in the first game and Katie Hollis added four kills in the second as H-BR held leads of 8-1, 14-2 and 19-4 en route to advancing to the regional championship at 6 p.m. Saturday.
"It's going to get tougher," Watson said. "This gave me a chance to get everybody in. I think everybody played. That's good."
Kroner said she feels like this H-BR team is in a good position to make a deep run in the postseason, similar to last season's team that made it to a sectional final.
"I feel like we have a really good lineup this year," she said. "I feel like we're not super-tall but we have decent height and can get the ball up there."
Hiawatha's season ends: Mooseheart defeated Hiawatha, 25-6, 25-15, in the regional-opener. Hiawatha played without its head coach, Ellen Stoddard, who was out sick.
The team was coached by assistant Michelle Vowels.
"I think it threw everyone for a loop but I think everyone worked really hard, as well," Vowels said. "They were excited to play the game and they gave it their all."
Vowels said senior Diana Sanderson stood out for her play on Wednesday as the Hawks hung with Mooseheart for the majority of the second game but couldn't overcome some mistakes late in the match.
CLASS 1A WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN REGIONAL
Wednesday’s results
Mooseheart 25-25, Hiawatha 6-15
Hinckley-Big Rock 25-25, Mooseheart 15-11
Thursday’s matches
Westminster Christian vs. Alden-Hebron, 5:30 p.m.
Leland vs. Elgin Academy, 6:30 p.m.
Westminster Christian-Alden-Hebron winner vs. Leland-Elgin Academy winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday’s championship match
Hinckley-Big Rock vs. TBD, 6 p.m.
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