Red Raiders super spikers win sectional

HUNTLEY — For the sign-waving fans, they knew the Huntley volleyball team has been super all season.

Huntley with a 31-8 record, has a chance to show the rest of the state their talents as they won the McHenry sectional with a 25-16, 25-23 victory over Libertyville. The triumph advanced HHS to the Class 4A super-sectional at DeKalb. Huntley battled Palatine Fremd (33-6 record) Nov. 11.

Libertyville, 25-13, battled to the end but could not top Huntley’s true grit Nov. 7. In the second set, the Wildcats led as late as 19-15 but the Red Raiders rallied with a 10-4 run to win it in two sets.

“The biggest thing is we just kept being aggressive even though we were trailing with a lot on the line. We had different people step up at different times, but we always want the ball to be in Georgia Watson’s hands,” Huntley head coach Karen Naymola said.

Watson, a senior team leader, led a balanced attack at the net with eight kills and also added four digs and three aces. Sienna Robertson had seven kills, many in the second set rally. Diellza Sejdini had four kills.

Watson contributed those kills but also tipped balls that went for points. She also had a dig from the back row.

“Watson is just a smart player – she can put the ball well and does well on the out-of-system plays. There’s a reason she will be a D-1 player,” the coach said.

“This is a very special group, not just this year, but we have been following them since middle school,” Naymola added.

Trust is the word with a big meaning for the Red Raiders. All players who spoke during the celebration mentioned it after the school’s third sectional title in four seasons.

“We have complete trust in one another – we want to go to state,” setter Emily Ernst said.

“It’s the trust we have as a family. We’re a super close-knit team,” fellow setter Rachel Hein said.

Ernst had nine assists while Hein added seven. The two took over the setting duties as Abby Whitehouse suffered an injury.

Senior libero Alex Goritz contributed seven digs.

“It’s such an amazing feeling,” Goritz said of advancing to DeKalb. “We practiced hard for them (Libertyville) and we replicated all they do on offense. Our motto this year is, ‘stick to the game plan’.”

Huntley had a good start in set one with a 9-2 lead, only to see the Wildcats regroup for an 11-11 tie. Huntley reopened a 16-11 cushion on three aces by Watson, then reached a 20-15 lead and finished off the set win.

Three points was the biggest lead for either team until two points from Robertson and Sejdini made it a 23-21 HHS lead.

Senior Mari Rodriquez added two more aces to her season specialty along with three digs.

“Every time I go to serve, I think it’s going to be an ace,” she said.