High school volleyball: Prairie Ridge clinches outright FVC championship

CARY – Prairie Ridge four-year setter Jayden Otto watched from the bench last week as the Wolves were unable to wrap up a Fox Valley Conference title in a straight-set loss to Huntley on senior night.

Otto, who missed three weeks with a stress fracture in her right foot, was back on the court Thursday for the Wolves and didn't miss a beat.

Prairie Ridge ended the regular season with a 25-15, 25-16 sweep over Cary-Grove to win the FVC championship outright for the first time since 2015.

The Wolves (24-10) lost one conference match during the season, going 15-1 in the FVC. Huntley was 14-2, losing once to Prairie Ridge and Crystal Lake Central, and took runner-up.

Otto, who will play next year at Eastern Michigan, was happy to be back on the court one last time before the postseason begins.

"It means a lot to win conference," said Otto, who had 27 assists in her first match since Sept. 27. "We worked so hard this year for this. It was really weird not being able to play, but I feel good overall.

"We mesh well together. I'm just trying to do everything I can to stay healthy."

Prairie Ridge never trailed in the first set and found success on the outside with Hannah Baudin and Olivia Annen, who finished with eight kills apiece.

Baudin took over for Otto the previous 15 matches, but was happy to be back at her natural position.

"When Jayden was out, it was a little rough for me, coming in and having to learn everything," Baudin said. "With Jayden back, I feel like we're all in a groove more. I'm really excited. We just want to win everything."

Sammi Lockwood, a Notre Dame commit, led the Wolves with six blocks and added five kills. Anna Tulke and Annen each had 12 digs on defense. Tulke, a senior, helped Prairie Ridge go on an 11-0 run with 11 straight service points in the second set.

Prairie Ridge went 7-8 without Otto, but some of those losses came with coach Stefanie Otto mixing in new players and shuffling starting lineups.

Tulke thinks the last three weeks have been beneficial for Prairie Ridge.

"We've had a lot of injuries, and it's really tested our dynamic," Tulke said. "I think it made us stronger because it brought us closer together. I think we still had a really strong finish, because we were able to work in new people and get everyone involved. We're more scrappy now."

C-G coach Patty Langanis said her team was unable to match both the height and speed of Prairie Ridge at multiple positions.

"They run a real fast slide with Lockwood, and we don't really have a defense for that," Langanis said. "Their outsides are ramming balls, and they play real aggressive defense. They have a setter who is the boss and runs the show. They're a very well put together team, and it's hard to find a weakness."

Evynn Layshock led C-G with eight kills, Kate Selsky had 10 digs, and Jenna Splitt had two aces and three kills.

STAR OF THE MATCH

Anna Tulke

Prairie Ridge, sr., DS

Tulke led the Wolves defensively with 12 digs and went on an 11-point serving streak in the second set.

THE NUMBER

10: Prairie Ridge has won 10 FVC championships.

AND ANOTHER THING ...

The Wolves are the third different team in the last three years to win the FVC. Crystal Lake Central won in 2017 and Huntley won in 2016.