Rebels settle for split with Metro Suburban foes

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Ridgewood's Dani Rzewnicki tries to get a shot past Elmwood Park's Olga Lipiszko and Amanda Tillich. | Jon Langham~for Sun-Times Media

Updated: November 16, 2011 12:01PM

After finishing fourth in the Latin Invite, the Ridgewood volleyball team hoped to build off that performance against two Metro Suburban Conference teams.

The Rebels took on Elmwood Park Oct. 4 and won in three sets, 25-17, 25-27, 25-6. Dani Rzewnicki had six aces, 12 assists and 11 digs. while Marlena Warjas added 15 digs and two aces.

“Every time we play each other, you can throw out the records,” said Ridgewood head coach Dave Wlodarczyk. “(The third set) was outstanding. It was a dominating game by our girls.”

The Rebels hoped to carry the momentum gained against Elmwood Park into a match with Illiana Christian on Oct. 6 but were unable to do so. Ridgewood lost to Illiana Christian in two sets, 25-16, 25-16. Leading the way for the Rebels was Mallory McCormack (11 digs) and Rzewnicki (8 assists). McCormack earned all tournament honors in the Latin Invite.

“That was a nice recognition for her,” said Wlodarczyk of McCormack’s honor, which is given to the top seven players of the tournament as voted by the other coaches.

Wlodarczyk’s team struggled after the nearly hour and a half trip to Lansing for the game against Illiana Christian.

“We drove all the way out there and they just out matched us,” Wlodarczyk said. “They are second in their sectional. They are well coached, they have tall, athletic girls and they’re just a good team.”

After the Illiana Christian game, the Rebels stood at 17-11 overall. Next up is a matchup with Riverside-Brookfield Oct. 13. The Rebels finish the season against Timothy Christian on Oct. 20.

“All three of the remaining teams have beaten us already and I’m okay with that,” Wlodarczyk said. “I want to go in and give it everything we’ve got and get ready for regionals.”

The Rebels will be the No. 10 seed in the 20-team Ridgewood Sectional. Ridgewood is set to play No. 5 seed Lakes on Oct. 25 in the Wauconda Regional.

“That is a pretty good seed. You try for a higher seed but I’m okay with that,” Wlodarczyk said. “The teams that are above us are better. People are looking past us. I like being the team that people look past. I’d rather be (the overlooked team) than the team that other teams are gunning for.”