Serving, defense spark volleyball wins
HUNTLEY — Strong serving and solid defensive play led the Red Raiders volleyball team to an upset win over Barrington sandwiched between Fox Valley Conference wins over Burlington Central and McHenry. Huntley’s squad remained undefeated with an 12-0 record.
It was fitting that senior Lizzy Williams led the Red Raiders through a celebration with volleyball fans after an emotional win over Barrington Sept. 20. Williams delivered the first blow with three straight first set aces and concluded it with a match-securing kill. Huntley outlasted Barington in three sets, 25-19, 22-25 and 25-20 for an 11-0 record.
Williams, the team’s leader in aces with 22, finished with seven aces, while Marni Rodriquez added three, Georgia Watson had two and Joycelyn Ehlring one.
Williams said serving has long been her best part of her game and she enjoys finishing off a match.
“I think it was a perfect way to start,” Williams said. “I use a routine every time. I always bounce the ball four times, take a deep breath and aim to the zone coach Karen Naymola told me to.”
“She serves with so much confidence,” Naymola said of Williams. “Her serving helped us jump out to the lead. Overall serving has been one of the best parts of our offense. Williams, Rodriquez and Jones all get aces.”
Barrington handed Huntley the first loss of a set this season with a three-point victory.
“We talked about at the start of the third set that we needed to keep our composure,” Naymola said.
“We’ve been excited about the Barrington match since the season started,” Watson said. “Coach said people asked her today if she was nervous and she said ‘no’.”
The Red Raiders benefited from a large homecoming week crowd.
“It was one of our better crowds of the season and in a tough week with three matches in three days,” Naymola said.
Watson provided a double digit night at the net with 11 kills and also added three blocks. Senior setter Laura Boberg directed the offense with 21 assists. Jones, the team leader in kills with 87, added seven kills and four blocks.
The defense was led by Rodriquez’s nine digs and Boberg had five.
Digging the defense
It was the defense that was highlighted the next night against the Tigers. The Red Raiders topped 50 total digs, juniors Mari Rodriquez, the team leader in that department with 72 and Alex Goritz, who has 57, led the way. When Huntley’s Mari Rodriquez began her volleyball career in seventh grade, she was the team libero.
This season Rodriquez continues in that role to lead several standouts on the Red Raiders’ defense, which has been a big part of a 12-0, 10-0 Fox Valley Conference record. Huntley turned back Crystal Lake Central, 25-16, 25-21 on Sept. 21.
The Red Raiders have several solid players on defense. They totaled 57 digs against the Tigers – 16 from Rodriquez and Georgia Watson Alex Goritz contributed 12, Williams seven and Laura Boberg had six.
Naymola spoke of the importance of the role, led by Luma Acevedo last season.
“We have had a lot of good defensive specialists,” Naymola said. “You have to be aggressive, be a leader and should touch the ball 90 percent of the time.”
“I’m very proud of us,” Rodriquez, a junior, said after another FVC win for an 11-0 league record.
“You have to be aware of all the hitters (on the opponent),” she added about playing libero.
The Red Raiders were helped by Goritz on defense as well.
“Goritz was definitely the spark we needed against CLC,” Naymola said.
Boberg went over 200 season assists with 27, leading to 11 kills from Watson and nine kills by Williams.
“We talked about it before the match that this has been a mentally challenging week for us,” Naymola said. “It was a good test for the post-season.”
