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CRYSTAL LAKE — If first impressions are any indication, Prairie Ridge is going to be a handful for teams in the Fox Valley Conference this year.
The Wolves (1-0, 1-0 FVC) never trailed during their season opening 25-17, 25-15 straight-set victory over Crystal Lake South on Tuesday night, thanks in large part to their formidable front line, which helped produce 31 combined kills.
Junior outside hitter Hannah Baudin led the way with a team-best 12 kills, while 6-foot-3 senior teammate Sammi Lockwood — a Notre Dame commit — had six at the middle blocker position. It was Lockwood's first match for the Wolves since her sophomore season, as she missed all of 2017 with a torn rotator cuff that required surgery.
"It felt great to be out there with my teammates again after missing so much time," Lockwood said. "I've been playing club volleyball leading up to this though, so I didn't feel any rust out there. The important thing is we won. It seems like this is a group of girls who all get along, so if we can maintain the chemistry we've had in practices up to this point, I feel like we're capable of big things, and it showed tonight."
Baudin and senior setter Jayden Otto, who tallied a team-high 20 assists, made sure their teammates were in great position to finish plays. They also got big help from Alexis Kantner and Olivia Annen, who each had 10 digs and helped keep numerous rallies alive.
"We have solid depth on our roster, which is good because it prevents the girls from getting too complacent, knowing their positions could be up for grabs at any given time if they don't stay focused, or on top of their game," Wolves coach Stefanie Otto said.
"I thought, offensively, our service game was strong tonight. But defensively, we still need to work on our service retrieval. There were times that was a bit too sloppy and lackadaisical."
The Gators (0-1, 0-1) did their best to make things as difficult as possible for the Wolves, especially in the opening set, when they only committed three unforced errors during the games first 42 combined points.
"We're a very inexperienced team," South coach Jorie Fontana said. "But as I told the girls in the postgame huddle, we will need to find ways to overcome any disadvantages we might encounter. Prairie Ridge has a lot of size and skill on the block, but I felt our girls did a really nice job at times adapting to that, and finding creative ways to hit around them and over them at times.
Senior Jamie Leigh Maule was outstanding defensively for South. Her game-high 17 digs helped keep both sets reasonably close. Kelly Carlson (10 digs), Samantha Wesoly (nine digs), McKenzie Wilson (13 assists), Megan House (six kills) and Amelia Reiter (five kills) all contributed, too.
But it wasn't enough to overcome the Wolves, who in addition to Lockwood, have a second Division I recruit in Jayden Otto (Eastern Michigan).
"They're probably gonna be a real force this year," Fontana said of Prairie Ridge. "They make you adjust in a major way near the net, do a lot of things well, and don't have many glaring weaknesses."
STAR OF THE MATCH
Hannah Baudin , Prairie Ridge, jr., OH
Baudin showed why she may be an integral piece of the Wolves' roster, as she pounded home a team-high 12 kills while providing a spark for her teammates.
THE NUMBER
0: Points (out of 82 total), during two combined sets, that the Wolves trailed for.
AND ANOTHER THING...
"Everyone here is really passionate about our goals," P-R senior Maddie McGuire said. "Our biggest goal is to make it to state this season. We think we have the talent, but it's gonna take all of us working together as one."