When you have a setter like Dundee-Crown’s Tori Brents, it opens up a world of possibilities.
The 5-foot-11 sophomore not only has the skill and agility to keep the Chargers’ offense running smoothly, her height allows her to be a weapon up front as well.
“I think when you have a setter that can do so much it keeps the other team on their heels,” Dundee-Crown coach Patty Langanis said. “We’re showing so many different options and so many different angles of attack because of what she creates.”
Brents has been the fuel behind the Chargers’ red-hot surge to end the regular season. They wrapped up Fox Valley Conference play Thursday night with a 25-15, 25-18 win over Burlington Central, avenging an earlier loss to the Rockets.
Heading into the postseason, Dundee-Crown (17-17, 8-10) has gone 9-1 in its last 10 matches.
Brents served three aces with her improved jump serve and added a block and a kill Thursday for the Chargers. Erin Bruce led the way with eight kills. Maura Minogue added five aces and Nina Marcanti had four. Ainsley Wilson paced Burlington Central (17-15, 7-11) with five kills.
When Langanis took over the program this summer, she gave Brents the green light to dump when she wanted to, keeping the opposing team’s block honest. She can also attack up front.
She does that with her club team, Sky High. And that’s in addition to her work as the setter.
“Honestly, it’s really fun to take that into my own hands and be able to do something with the amazing passes my passers are giving me,” Brents said. “They believe in me to take the ball into my own hands and do what I can with it.”
It certainly caught the attention of Burlington Central coach Julia Smagacz. Brents’ versatility was front and center in Smagacz’s game plan coming into the match.
“Luckily, we were able to limit her to just a handful of kills, which was good,” Smagacz said. “She almost is their sixth hitter when she’s on the front row. We paid attention to that.
“That is definitely something to consider.”
She was also one of two Chargers to incorporate a jump serve this season. As with Bruce, it took some time to come along. When it’s rolling, however, it makes Brents even more dangerous.
“It was very rough at first,” she said. “Consistency has been an issue, but it’s been way better in the second half.”
Langanis, meanwhile, is happy to have a floor general who can handle so much.
“She’s our positive light out there on the court,” Langanis said. “She brings so much power with her serve. If we can get her in the offense, we try to as much as we can because she’s one of the best attackers in the gym.”
It’s her setting, however, that’s the real standout.
“Her quickness and agility to get to the ball, we’re never out of system with her as a setter,” Langanis said. “She finds a way to keep our hitters swinging.
“Sometimes, you just have to pinch yourself that she’s only a sophomore.”
Langanis took Brents out of her comfort zone when she took over at Dundee-Crown — as she did with much of the team. And it’s paying dividends now.
Brents said their coach is the reason the Chargers are playing with so much confidence.
“We put all our trust in her,” Brents said of Langanis. “She’s been able to transform the program. I trust her completely. You’ve seen how much she’s helped us.”
Brents can’t wait to bring that to the court next week with her teammates.
Although the Chargers are only the seventh seed in the Class 4A Hampshire Sectional, they are one of the hottest teams in the bracket.
“I think it’s a completely different team now,” Brents said. “With the trust in each other, we’re all super excited to see what we can do.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.