To say that Symone Speech’s debut season as head coach of the Oak Park and River Forest High School varsity girls volleyball team has gone well would be an understatement. The Huskies (20-7) not only clinched the West Suburban Silver title on Monday with a 25-7, 25-10 road victory at Proviso West, they are the top seed in the upcoming IHSA Class 4A Lyons Township Sectional.
“This year’s been great,” Speech said. “I got really lucky with a great group of girls. They work so hard, and they trust in me and the process.”
Among OPRF’s leaders are junior outside hitter Emmi Bozarth with 180 kills and 31 aces entering this week’s action (both team-highs); junior defensive specialist/outside hitter Devyn Kleidon (132 kills, 11 aces, 132 digs); junior middle blocker/hitter Jaida Garland (team-best 31 blocks); senior setter Erin Dwyer (team-high 312 assists); senior outside hitter Samantha Shelton (76 kills); and senior libero Kate Bailitz (team-best 257 digs).
With the departure of longtime coach Kelly Collins, most experts downplayed OPRF’s season fortunes. But Speech believes the culture developed over the years is the biggest reason for the Huskies’ success.
“They were devoted to doing something bigger than themselves,” she said of her team. “They were ready to do something that hasn’t been done in a long time. It’s also got something to do with how close they are outside volleyball. They’ve known each other for a while and have been able to maintain those relationships and it shows on the court, how much they trust each other.”
That “something” is an outright WSC Silver title, which the program had not attained since 1993. OPRF tied in the league standings with Downers Grove North and Lyons Township, defeating the former and losing to the latter. But the Huskies won the championship outright due to a second tiebreaker for three teams with the same league record – least number of sets lost.
Now OPRF is preparing for the start of the state playoffs next week.
“It’s not necessarily about the wins or outcomes,” she said, “but rather being better every single game. Hopefully, by the time of the state finals (Nov. 14-15), those little one and two daily percentages add up to being there and finishing off a great season.”
Following an East Avenue Showdown with visiting Fenwick, Oct. 21 (after deadline), OPRF concludes the regular season at home against St. Ignatius, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m.
Fenwick
Like OPRF, Fenwick has a number-one sectional seed. The Friars, 21-10 entering this week, are atop their own Class 3A sectional. Moreover, they’re also hosting a regional.
One of the main factors behind Fenwick’s success is the play of junior outside hitter Bella Gray, who verbally committed to St. Louis University this week. She has a team-high 237 kills, 174 digs, 31 assists, and 18 blocks.
Fenwick coach Tee Pimsarn compared Gray to a couple of the program’s all-time greats.
“She’s a generational talent like Beau Vanderlaan or McKenzie Moorman,” he said. “You just don’t get many of those. Talent only goes so far and Bella has certainly put in tons of work to get to where she is.”
The Friars have also received contributions from senior middle hitters Lilly Boyle, who leads the team with 48 blocks; senior libero Sophia Leonardi with a team-high 214 digs; and junior setters Sofia Grossman and Hailey Bernahl, who are 1-2 in assists with 259 and 249 respectively.
“Lilly’s range on blocking and attacking has helped us lessen the workload from Bella and balanced out our offense,” Pimsarn said. “Bella, Sophia, Emily Drumm, Emma Kure, and Kennedy Gonsalves have been solid with passing this season. Hailey and Sofia continue to improve every day. They have one of those thankless jobs, but without them we wouldn’t be where we are.”
Fenwick, which hosts St. Laurence in the regular-season finale, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m., aims to enter the playoffs on a strong note.
“My goal for them is to continue to compete at a high level,” Pimsarn said. “We don’t fear failure as long as it’s strategic and working toward improvement. We ask our kids to take calculated risks and if we make a mistake, we acknowledge it. So far, it’s been working for us.”