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DeKalb downs Larkin in regional semis
| Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |
Updated: October 25, 2011 8:58PM
Larkin chose to use its season-ending 25-8, 25-19 volleyball defeat at the hands of top-seeded DeKalb in Tuesday’s Elgin Class 4A Regional semifinals as a bridge for next year.
“We will take this one as a learning lesson for the players who will be back next year,” said coach Marcin Dybka, after the Royals bowed out with a 12-25 record.
Facing a DeKalb team that featured Arizona-bound hitter Emily Bemis, East Tennessee State-bound Jessica Schafer, two other seniors drawing college interest, and giant sophomore middle blocker Courtney Bemis — who might be the best of all of them — the Royals could have been a bit intimidated. Especially in Game 1 when they fell behind 20-3.
“Maybe a little bit, who knows,” Dybka said. “You would have to get inside my players’ heads to know.”
The fourth-seeded Royals came out firing in the second game and rallied from a 15-8 deficit to within 18-16 behind the hitting of Brianna Stewart and blocking/hitting of Olivia Kofie, but DeKalb closed out the match with a 7-3 run that included two kills from their Arizona-bound star and one by her younger sister.
The Barbs play in Thursday’s 6 p.m. title match against second-seeded South Elgin.
“We served them aggressively,” Dybka said. “We tried to find their weak chain link, but we didn’t find any.
“That’s why we missed so many serves (4). We tried to take a risk. We would either take the risk and get some points or we would just be losing the game.”
Emily Bemis had eight kills, her sister four and Schafer four for the Barbs (26-6), who did not play title game opponent South Elgin in the regular season.
“They (South Elgin) are a very solid team,” DeKalb coach Stephanie Gooden said. “I know (South Elgin coach) Joni (Plach) from when she coached the men’s team and I coached St. Charles’ men’s team. I respect her a lot. I think she has turned that program around.”
Stewart had five kills and Kofie four for the Royals, and both Larkin stars will be back in 2012 with two varsity seasons of experience.
“I’m proud of my team,” Dybka said. “I remember two years ago they won only two games. Last year (Dybka’s first) we won seven and this year we won 12.
“I think it’s a good progression.”
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