Regional Final vs. Rolling Meadows - October 29th

From The Daily Herald

Some preseason prognosticators didn’t think much of the Barrington girls volleyball team prospects this season.

“Everyone said it was going to be a rebuilding year,” said first-year Barrington coach Kathleen Russell. “They gave us no chance. But I don’t think any of our players felt that way.”

The Fillies sure didn’t feel that way Saturday afternoon in Rolling Meadows, as Barrington defeated the Mustangs 23-25, 25-19, 25-22 to claim the regional championship.

The No. 4-seeded Fillies (23--14) advance to the Hoffman Estates sectional semifinal on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and will meet top-seeded Prairie Ridge.

“No one thought we would be here,” said Barrington defensive specialists Megan Asher. “It’s a great feeling to prove everyone wrong.”

Despite the loss, Rolling Meadows proved they belonged. The Mustangs overcame the loss of their regular setter to come within a few points of winning the regional.

Senior Megan Sabal went out with a leg injury in the first game after diving into the stands to attempt a dig, leaving the setting duties for the remainder of the game to Morgan Schaefer.

Schaefer filled in admirably as the senior was 61-for-61 setting with 13 assists.

“This is the most I’ve ever set in a real game,” said Schaefer. “It feels great to know I held my own.”

Sabal went to the sidelines with the score tied 20-20 in game 1, but Schaefer saved the day with a left-handed kill to give Meadows the first game victory.

“I felt that they were doing well,” said Russell of her team after the Game 1 loss. “They were in control, but they were so excited, their adrenaline was going so much.”

“We felt we could play with them,” added Barrington setter Lexi Zimmerman. “After the first-game loss, we realized how much harder we had to push.”

Meadows took an early lead in Game 2 with Sarah Cooper (27-of-29 on attack, 15 kills, 2 aces) and Kyrsten Becker (5 kills, 1 ace) playing well, but Barrington came back behind Autumn Worozaken (10 kills) and Zimmerman (19 assists, 9 kills) to even the match.

Meadows trailed 10-4 in the deciding game before rallying to trail only 23-22 late.

Then Barrington’s Natalie Barton hit a strong kill, and Asher finished off the match emphatically with an ace.

“It was invigorating, amazing,” Asher said. “It means lot. Basically, it confirms all of our hard work and desire.”

“I’m extremely proud of our team,” Rolling Meadows coach Janet Opels said. “Who knows what could have happened with just a break or two down the stretch.

“We lost the match, but we’re not losers,” Opels added. “We battled the entire way. We came within 3 points of a win despite playing two games without our regular setter.”

Sarah Camodeca of Meadows was 9-for-9 on service with an ace and 16-of-19 on serve receive, while teammate Charlotte Milas recorded 9 blocks and 5 kills.

Chelsea Nagle was 13-of-15 on attack with 8 kills for the Fillies.