Fillies Volleyball Season Starts with Consecutive Road Wins

Barrington’s new varsity volleyball coach already is seeing positive results on the court, and he isn’t just talking about the consecutive wins to open the season.

“The girls really responded in that first match,” Ridenour said of Barrington’s 25-23 match one comeback win at Mundelein.

“Just play five great points,” Ridenour said he told his players during a timeout while trailing 21-20 to the Mustangs. “We have a chance to steal (this first) game.”

Barrington, who essentially trailed the entire first match, would go on a 5-2 run to sneak one past Mundelein 25-23.

Barrington’s momentum from their first match carried into the start of the second game as the Fillies jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead.  Senior libero Amanda Dee got Barrington on the scoreboard with her serving consecutive points to begin the second match.  Dee would register four aces and contribute on defense with seven digs.

But Mundelein, which saw Barrington chip away while playing behind during match one, began to do the same to the Fillies in the second match. The Mustangs managed to close the gap but still found themselves on the losing side of a 17-18 score. The Mustangs comeback was led by sophomore Madi Wilcox and her five kills. Senior Karolina Sierzputowska helped keep Mundelein in the second contest with her two blocks, and ended with four blocks on the night.

However, that was the closest that the Mustangs would get to Barrington as the Fillies would end their second match in similar fashion to the first match, by firing off a 7-1 run to secure a 25-18 win. 

“We made some adjustments toward the end of game one that carried over into game two,” Ridenour said. “I think our offense did a great job adjusting to their defense, which was a completely different defense than what we saw against Stevenson.”

One of those who contributed during both games was Barrington’s captain Lauren Dunseith, who had an all around great game with her 17 assists, two blocks, seven digs and two aces.

“Lauren (Dunseith) did a great job adjusting and digging,” Ridenour went on to say of his setter, who he felt sparked the rally.

Barrington junior outside hitter Peyton Lang helped stop any attempts by the Mustangs for a comeback with her eight kills, one short of fellow junior Lauren Shectman’s game high nine kills. Shectman also recorded three blocks.   

Barrington’s win over the Mustangs is the second road victory to start the season. The Fillies had defeated Stevenson in their season opener.

A great start to this year’s season helps ease the pain from last year’s finish at regionals.  The Fillies hit their stride late last season and finished strong, but Barrington would lose a tough contest at the hands of the best team in the state, the Cary-Grove Trojans.  

Ridenour views the early season wins, and smooth transition for him as coach, as stemming from two factors: his assistant coaches and the team’s characteristics.

“We have carried over the same coaching staff from last year and I think that has really eased the transition for the team,” Ridenour said of the returning coaching staff of Lindsey Johnson and Kathleen Steiger. “These coaches have been doing a great job.”

As coaches, “we have made a few adjustments from the way we played last year,” Ridenour went on to say. “And I think the girls have done a really nice job embracing some of those changes.”

The early season success is what Ridenour expected from his team, and he feels it is due to some important qualities his team can use all season long — and while competing in the Mid Suburban League.

“All the girls are all really intelligent and really want to improve,” Ridenour said of the No. 1 thing that has impressed him so far this season.