Girls Volleyball: Brutal stretch tests Providence
By Tim O’Brien For Sun-Times Media September 24, 2012 7:22PM
Updated: October 26, 2012 6:10AM
Winners of the Plainfield North and Oak Lawn tournaments, Providence raced out to an impressive 12-2 record through the first three weeks of the season.
Heading into a particularly brutal stretch of the schedule following the hot start, Providence coach Rachel Ellingson was curious to see how her team would respond to the challenge.
“The rest of the season is by no means easy, but the next two weeks are tough,” Ellingson said at the time. “We’ve played some fantastic teams so it’s not like our early schedule was easy. The 12-2 mark is a great start and great for us to see where we are as a team.”
The Celtics opened the stretch with road losses to Marian Catholic and Mother McAuley. Opening the Rich East Invite, Providence lost to Mother McAuley for a second time in three days but regrouped to go 4-1 overall and win the Silver Division by beating Lincoln-Way Central.
Upcoming for Providence?
The Celtics will host Marist on Tuesday and Joliet Catholic on Oct. 2.
“We’re playing tough and there are always things to iron out whether you’re at Game 1 or Game 35,” Ellingson said. “You go back to work, revamp, recuperate and see if you can do better.”
Hunger games for Coalers
At the halfway point of the season, Coal City coach Michael Lanoue is still looking for the right combination of players on the court.
“Just trying to find some hungry kids who want to do something,” Lanoue said after his Coalers lost a two-set match to Reed-Custer. “We’re at that midpoint in the season where seeding starts to matter.”
Junior outside hitter Emily Halliday has been the Coalers’ offensive star. Setter Kassie Aldridge and middle Claire Smith also are playing key roles.
IHSA assignments announced
Moving up to 4A for the first time, Lemont will play at the Neuqua Valley Sectional
Area fans should keep an eye on the Morris Regional, which features four teams in the Herald-News Top 10 — Joliet Catholic, Providence, Morris and Lincoln-Way West.
Coal City rounds out the five-team Morris Regional field.
