Metea Valley middle hitter Halle Williams took the set from fellow senior Regan Holmer and slammed a kill to win the opening point.
That got things started.
“It was really just a rush of energy from the beginning,” Williams said. “We’re just all family together and we knew we were going to take this one home.”
With the 5-foot-11 Williams establishing the early tone Thursday night, the host Mustangs cruised past Oswego 25-9, 25-10 in the Class 4A Metea Valley Regional championship match.
It’s the first regional title in program history for top-seeded Metea Valley (35-2), which will play fifth-seeded Yorkville (31-5) at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Oswego Sectional semifinals.
“This means a lot,” Williams said. “It gives us a lot of hope to go all the way and hopefully win state.”
Several significant obstacles remain in the way, but if the Mustangs perform like they did against the 10th-seeded Panthers (16-15), a state title is not a pipe dream.
“They have everything,” Oswego coach Julie Zeck said. “There is not one weak link.
“Their libero (Morgan Rank) is outstanding, (Kira Hutson) is outstanding, the setter (Holmer) is outstanding. I hope they go far.”
Metea entered the season with high hopes thanks to the big three of Hutson, a 6-4 junior outside who has committed to Florida, the Alabama-bound Rank and Holmer, who will play beach volleyball at Grand Canyon.
But the effort of less-heralded players like Williams and senior Emma Bludgen, the second setter in Metea’s 5-2 offense, has elevated the team to elite status.
Junior outside Annabelle Troy and senior right side Maura Pilafas also have played well.
“It was everyone, which is awesome,” Metea coach Dave Macdonald said. “Usually everybody is like ‘Kira, Kira, Kira,’ but Halle stepped up huge in the middle.
“Oh, my goodness, she started off as probably our third or fourth middle and now she’s doing amazing.”
Williams, a Missouri State beach volleyball commit, had three kills and Bludgen two aces during an opening 19-6 run.
“We just came in with a lot of energy and we all trusted each other,” said Bludgen, who finished with nine assists and three aces. “When we came into the gym, we were all ready to go.
“All we had to do was trust that our hitters were going to do what they’re supposed to do.”
The Mustangs did, committing only two hitting errors. They were nearly flawless in all aspects, making just three service errors against eight aces, while Rank spent the evening digging everything in sight.
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“It was a total team effort,” said Holmer, who totaled six kills and 16 assists. “Everybody stepped up and played their role and did their job.
“That’s something we emphasize all the time is just do your job and we’re going to go far if we play together.”
Metea continued that trend in Game 2, never taking the foot off the accelerator.
“After the first set, we knew that Oswego wasn’t going to let up,” Williams said. “Winning a regional is something this school has never done before, so we had a goal and everyone was on the same page and wanted to accomplish this.”
It was a memorable final home game for Metea’s 10 seniors.
“It’s such a good feeling knowing we accomplished something that’s never been done before,” Bludgen said. “We all did it together, so it’s a great way to go out.”
But the Mustangs are not finished yet.
“Moving forward, we know how difficult it’s going to be and how much harder it’s going to get,” Holmer said. “We’re ready for it and we want that challenge.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.