Senior captain Taylor Jakubowski gets ready to serve and kick off the game, the sound of bench and crowd chanting loudly, “T-T-to-T-A-Y.” Huntley High School’s girls varsity volleyball team went head-to-head against Prairie Ridge on Thursday, Oct. 17 in their second-to-last home game of the season. Also, it was pink-out night for the Raiders to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The girls had a rough start to their week, earning their first conference loss of the season on Tuesday, Oct. 15 to Crystal Lake Central. However, they quickly bounced back by winning against Prairie Ridge in just two sets, 25-15 and 25-19. 

“We worked together, played as a family, and had fun. That’s when we perform our best,” senior outside hitter Kylie Jenkins said. 

Family is something team emphasizes immensely. It is evident in every aspect of their game, from the communication on the court, to the cheers and chants from the bench, to the handshakes during timeouts, to the team dinners the day before. When the girls hang out together, they aren’t doing it as teammates, rather as sisters that they have known their whole life. 

Jenkins had a team high nine digs in their triumph over the Wolves. Other highlights include libero Josie Schmitendorf’s eight digs, and hitter Ashley Konecki’s four kills and two aces. 

“Moving forward this season we’re looking to play for each other and have fun in order to make a run in the postseason,” Schmitendorf said.

The girls are currently have a lock for first place in the Fox Valley Conference if they win their final two conference matchups next week. They were ranked seventh in the state entering this week, but now dropped to fourteenth following their loss to Crystal Lake Central. 

The team has two more tournaments and two more games before regionals start in two weeks. The team is hoping to advance into sectionals as well, and possibly even further.