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CHICAGO – Richmond-Burton coach Kaycee Kaywood has believed in her team all year, but apparently it has only recently started clicking with the players themselves.
"Kaywood's been telling us all season 'You guys are really good' but we didn't really believe her until like now," senior Jessie Duncan said.
The Rockets were believing on Thursday night after they beat Chicago Northside in three sets 25-17, 17-25, 25-20 to win the 3A Chicago Northside Regional title.
"It wouldn't be a regional championship if it was easy, right?" Kaywood said.
It's the Rockets' first regional title since 2012, when they advanced to state. The current seniors were freshmen that season.
"I think the seniors, too, we didn't want our season to end yet, we want to keep it going," Celena Kanagin said.
Richmond-Burton will face Marian Central on Tuesday in the Woodstock Sectional semifinals.
After Thursday night's win, Kaywood hailed the "scrappy" defense.
"Obviously we're really stacked on offense, it's just our defense, but I thought that we did an amazing job tonight. ... I think our defense is what won the game," Kaywood said.
Kanagin, the focal point of the offense, led the Rockets with 14 kills. Kanagin, like the rest of the Rockets, is usually loose on court, but at big moments Thursday she looked locked in.
"I was just getting frustrated what was going on ... I knew I needed to step it up," Kanagin said.
"She hits better when she's mad," Duncan interjected.
"Yeah, I hit a lot better when I'm mad," Kanagin agreed.
Kanagin swung well in big moments, hitting the match winner and scoring two of the final three points in the first set
"It's amazing. We're going to miss her (next year), obviously. I think she 100 percent stepped up tonight and proved why she's going D-1," Kaywood said. "She just maintained her composure, she got a little mad there and she just took it onto her control so it's really nice to have her."
Duncan led the Rockets' defense with 18 digs. Addie Halverson did a little of everything, adding nine kills and 12 digs while Bailey Dean had 25 assists.
"I think we did pretty good like getting up the tips and being scrappy about getting all the balls up and not letting them hit the floor," Halverson said.
Megan Kennedy led Northside with seven kills and five blocks while Isabelle Banez had 42 digs and Audrey Konow had 22 assists.
"I feel like the second game we had sticky feet, we just weren't moving and then we were getting mad at ourselves," Kanagin said. "The third game we just refreshed and came out like our goofy selves and played our game."
Unsung hero:
Jessie Duncan, Richmond-Burton, Sr. Lib.
Rockets coach Kaycee Kaywood called Duncan the "ringleader" of the defense which was key to the victory. Duncan finished with a team-high 18 digs.
The number: 14
kills for senior Celena Kanagin.
And another thing...
Despite the long commute, Richmond-Burton had a fan presence at the match beyond just family members. Four students in particular were sitting courtside and trying to make noise for the Rockets. The next match will be closer to home as they face Marian Central at Woodstock Tuesday.
3A Chicago Northside Regional Final
Richmond Burton 2, Chicago Northside 1
(25-17, 17-25, 25-20)
Richmond-Burton leaders: Kills- Celena Kanagin 14, Addie Halverson 9. Assists- Bailey Dean 25. Digs- Jessie Duncan 18, Addie Halverson 12.
Chicago Northside leaders: Kills- Megan Kennedy 7. Blocks- Megan Kennedy 5. Aces- Isabelle Banez 5, Audrey Konow 2. Assists- Audrey Konow 22. Digs- Isabelle Banaez 42.