Friendliest Rivalry

Throughout most of the school year, the Lady Hornets of Scales Mound and Lady Wildcats of River Ridge are on the same team as they co-op in both basketball and softball. So, the one, and only sport in which they oppose each other ... is volleyball.

That familiarity with each other makes for a far different kind of match than you would see in most gyms throughout Northwest Illinois.

When opposing teams see Addison Albrecht smash a monster hit, or Gwen Miller make one of her line drive drop serves – it can be intimidating. But when it comes to the Hornets ...

"We know what they can do, and we kn...