So close: Huntley turned back by Fillies’ rally
HUNTLEY – If Huntley and Barrington’s volleyball teams could schedule at a neutral site, next summer, it would make for quite an afternoon.
The two teams combined for 71 wins, two unbeaten league crowns and two sectional championships. They split two matches heading to a super sectional match Nov. 4 at Dundee-Crown. Barrington’s last loss en route to state, was to Huntley in September. But this Friday, it was the Fillies who celebrated after winning the Class 4A IHSA super sectional, 10-25, 25-14, 28-26.
With the match tied one set each, Red Raiders had the momentum for the early going in the decisive third set.
An Emily Willis kill and one by Georgia Watson led to an 8-7 early lead. A block by Morgan Jones brought the HHS fans to a frenzy with a 19-15 lead and it reached 22-17. Barrington regrouped from there to force the set beyond 25 points. Ally Panzloff’s kill gave HHS its final of three match point chances at a 26-25 lead. The Fillies reached back to secure three more points. BHS, 39-1, closed the books on the Huntley (32-7)season with a 13-7 run.
The Fillies will face Benet Academy in the state semifinals at Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena Nov. 11.
“I was so proud of the team,” Huntley coach Karen Naymola said. “The word today was mirror, to look in the mirror and believe in yourself and the team. We came so close you could feel it but they has some errors and some plays could have gone either way. Some teams did not give us much of a chance after Avary DeBlieck got hurt, to go this far. Watson played her best match in the middle. Panzloff swung so hard in the first game. It was the fight and the refuse to lose.”
Senior Maggie Duyos, who is headed to Austin Peay University next season, totaled 27 assists and 13 digs. Sophomore Georgia Watson was called upon for both front row and serve receive duties and chalked up 13 kills and seven digs. Brown University bound senior Ally Panzloff recorded 13 kills and nine digs.
“It was some of the best defense we have seen all season,” Naymola said.
Watson reflected on her and the squad’s effort to two points shy of playing at Redbird Arena. “Tonight was so close but we’re proud to have come this far,” Watson said. “We had a mindset that we could do it but we did not come out on top.”
Watson said the returning group can lead the Huntley volleyball program to more success. They will defend a Fox Valley Conference championship won by an 18-0 season.
Seniors said they will miss their classmates who have grown close as teammates on the court.
“I still have college coming up but what I’ll take from this season is just to enjoy the moment,” Duyos said. “We played together as a team,” setter Duyos said.
Duyos praised the contributions of Watson, who will be team leaders with junior Morgan Jones next season.
“I told Georgia before every post-season match that I believed in her,” Duyos said.
“We practice a lot being down at 23 points,” Barrington coach Michelle Jakubowski said. “For this group, going to state may seem normal, as they made it in their freshman year, then COVID hit (2020) and they made it the last two seasons.”
Huntley ties
“Huntley beat Barrington 12 years ago on this court,” Jakubowski said of the 2010 sectional semifinal match.
Jakubowski, who is the wife of Huntley baseball coach Andy Jakubowski, was the Huntley volleyball coach from 2006-2012. The win was one of Huntley’s three regional titles in her tenure. Two years later, Naymola was named head coach.
“I take a little something from all my coaching history, at Winnebago, Huntley and Lake Zurich,” Jakubowski said.
Daughter Taylor Jakubowski plays D-1 volleyball at Seton Hall University.
Jakubowski followed legendary Huntley coach Larry Kohl, who guided HHS to four straight state tournaments, two runners-up and 432 wins over 20 seasons.
