“Survive and advance” is a term used often each year in the NCAA Division I Men’s College Basketball Tournament. Highly favored teams find themselves in unexpected battles in the early rounds and have to muster all their energy to avoid getting eliminated by the underdogs.
On Oct. 30 in the IHSA Class 4A girls volleyball regional final at Jones Prep, this logic applied to the Oak Park and River Forest team. The Huskies, the top seed in the Lyons Township Sectional, found themselves being challenged in a major way by West Suburban Silver rival Hinsdale Central as the Red Devils won the first set 25-15.
But OPRF (24-7) got up off the mat and rallied to win the next two sets – 25-22, 25-23 – and the match 2-1. It’s the program’s fourth consecutive regional championship and 24th overall.
“In the first set, Devyn (Kleidon) hurt her thumb and I think that rattled the girls,” said OPRF coach Symone Speech. “It took them a minute to get readjusted, but they bounced back in the second and third sets because they realized their season could be over.”
OPRF clinched the match with an ace from senior libero Kate Bailitz.
“I told the girls it’s not going to be the same as the regular season,” Speech said. “Everyone’s playing harder and you can win or lose on any given day. We have to remember what we’ve been working for all season.”
Emmi Bozarth had 12 kills, 13 digs, and three aces to lead OPRF. The Huskies also got valuable contributions from Samantha Shelton (seven kills, five digs, ace), Edie Carroll, and Erin Dwyer (12 assists each).
OPRF faced sectional host and WSC Silver rival Lyons Township in a semifinal, Nov. 4, after press time. A victory would move the Huskies to the final, Nov. 6, against the winner of the other semifinal, either Downers Grove North or Downers Grove South.
“It doesn’t matter who we play, every game’s going to be a fight,” Speech said. “We just have to believe everything we’ve been working on and not get caught up in revenge. (LT) is a great opponent we have to beat to keep going and extend our season.”
Fenwick
Bella Gray had 11 kills and an ace as the Friars (24-11) rolled past Bulls Prep 25-9, 25-15, Oct. 30, to win their Class 3A regional title, the 18th in program history.
“Winning anything feels great,” said Fenwick coach Tee Pimsarn. “There are a lot of expectations with this group and we don’t take anything for granted. We’re super-proud of them.”
Hailey Bernahl had 11 assists and three aces and Sophia Leonardi six digs and an ace for Fenwick, which faced De La Salle in a Fenwick Sectional semi-final, Nov. 4, after press time. A win would advance the Friars to the final, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., against either Latin or Payton Prep.
“At this point, it’s not enough just to want it,” Pimsarn said, “because everyone wants it. The biggest thing is playing at a high level consistently. We know there will never be a perfect match; we need to ride the roller coaster of competition and consistently execute the small things really well.”
Trinity
It has been an emotional season for Trinity as the program continues to deal with the sudden loss of longtime coach Ken Uhlir, who unexpectedly passed away in the spring. But Uhlir would’ve surely appreciated the Blazers’ impressive 25-13, 25-15 victory over F.W. Parker in the final of the Class 2A Trinity Regional, Oct. 30. It’s Trinity’s first regional title since 2022 and 18th overall.
“I’m proud of the girls; they did exactly what they were asked to do,” said Trinity coach Molly Puttin, who served as an assistant under Uhlir.
The Blazers served very well against the Colonels, posting 15 aces for the match. Alice Iammartino had six kills, six digs, and five aces; Maeve Corrigan four aces; Ginny Redmond nine kills and two aces; and Maddie Trendel 16 assists and two aces for Trinity.
The Blazers (22-14) hosted Noble/Golder in a sectional semifinal, Nov. 4. A win puts Trinity into the final, Nov. 6, against either Christ the King or Rickover Naval Academy.
“I have high hopes. If the girls keep working hard, I think we have a good shot,” Puttin said. “We have the right team.”