Red Raiders, C-G have deep volleyball roots
HUNTLEY — For nearly 20 years, Karen Naymola and Patty Langanis have enjoyed friendly matches of strategy in Fox Valley Conference clashes.
The Cary-Grove alumna, Naymola, and her mentor, Langanis, squads squared off Sept. 17 at Cary-Grove. Naymola, who formerly coached at Hampshire, led the Red Raiders to a comfortable 2-0 win. The match represented 1,236 combined wins and five state playoff appearances.
Langanis has reached her 30th year guiding the Trojans and has totaled 734 victories. The Trojans have won 10 regional titles, four sectionals, four trips to the IHSA state finals, with one IHSA title (2009) and two second-place finishes.
Naymola played for Langanis’ teams when the Trojans were just establishing an area powerhouse.
“Naymola was such a natural athlete and has done a great job at Hampshire and Huntley,” Langanis said. “I remember calling and mailing college coaches asking them to see her play.”
Naymola’s Hampshire squad reached the Class 2A IHSA state final match in 2007-08, beating Chicago Christian in the first round at state, but lost to Breese Central in three sets for the championship.
From 2005-12, under Naymola’s guidance, the Whip-Purs won four regionals, one sectional and had the one state appearance. At HHS, there have been seven straight regional titles, back-to-back FVC titles and three sectional crowns.
“The first regional championship (at Hampshire) was huge because we won against such a big team. This was my first regional and so memorable,” Naymola commented.
Naymola had a successful career playing volleyball at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. She praised the influence Langanis has had on her career.
“She was a great mentor,” Naymola said of Langanis. “She is very supportive and pushed me to be the best I could be. Very supportive of my recruiting process and helping me along the way as well. I would like at least 40 times we have seen each other.”
Both long-time volleyball mentors recalled an unusual play that happened at C-G. “My junior year I spiked a ball off her face in practice and knocked her to the ground. I felt terrible but we laughed after,” Naymola said.
Naymola noted some of her teachers are still on the Trojans’ staff.
The second round of the FVC friends’ battle will be at Huntley Oct. 17.
