Batavia wraps up outright UEC River title

Two nights this week, two girls volleyball teams wrapping up conference championships.

All things considered a promising way to head into the postseason that begins next week.

A night after Aurora Central sealed its second straight Suburban Christian Conference Gold title, Batavia brought home an outright Upstate Eight River Division championship with a 25-12, 25-10 win at Larkin on Tuesday.

The Bulldogs improved to 30-4 overall and finished 6-0 in River matches. They won their first conference championship since 2005 when they shared the Western Sun with Sycamore. St. Charles East finished second, St. Charles North third and Geneva fourth.

Like she has been saying all year, Batavia coach Lori Trippi-Payne called Tuesday's win an all-around team effort. Anysa Ocon and Briahna Havis did a great job filling in for a starter out with the flu. Mary Nilles had 17 assists, 5 digs, 3 kills. Caitlin Piechota pounded 10 kills and 2 aces. Kristen Koncelik (6 kills, 1 block), Blaire Theuerkauf (5 kills) and Stephanie Kinane (7 digs) all chipped in.

Batavia gets a chance to avenge one of its four losses Wednesday night when it hosts Huntley on senior night. The only other teams to beat the Bulldogs this year are Hinsdale South, Waubonsie Valley and Lake Zurich.

The later of those losses came Saturday at the 24-team Maine West Pumpkin Tournament, where Batavia beat New Trier 25-16, 28-26 to take fifth place its best finish in Trippi-Payne's 19 years.

Batavia earned the No. 3 seed at the Bartlett sectional. If the seeds hold, the Bulldogs will join No. 1 West Chicago, No. 2 York and No. 4 St. Charles East at the sectional on Nov. 2 but all those favorites face challenges first in regional play next week.

North Stars news: St. Charles North is seeded eighth in that same sectional and likely will have to beat DuPage Valley Conference opponents Wheaton Warrenville South and West Chicago if it wants to win a second straight regional.

Coach Lindsey Hawkins' team is coming off a runner-up finish at the Minooka tournament last weekend. Senior Miranda Coello earned All-Tournament honors.

After missing the first three weeks of the season, the two-year captain has been averaging 10 digs a match and helping settle the North Stars' passing.

“Since Miranda's return, our serve receive has drastically improved as well as our defense, Hawkins said. “She is definitely the vocal leader on our team.

Sarah Clarkson handed out 106 assists at the Minooka tourney to continue her strong play at setter. Hawkins praised Clarkson not just for her play on the court she leads the team in aces and assists but the way she has overcome adversity away from volleyball.

“Sarah is the focused energy on our team she gets the girls fired up, but in a way that emphasizes composure, Hawkins said. “Such a small, quiet girl packs a powerful punch behind her serve and really makes a difference to our team.

“She has also showcased what athletics teaches a young female at this age independence, self-confidence, determination, and civic responsibility.

Katie Fuerst, Kim Juriga and Lauren Madiarczyk combined for 88 kills at the tournament. Fuerst added to her team lead in that category.

“Katie Fuerst is a grossly underestimated player, Hawkins said. “This team really relies on her no matter where she is on the court to get the job done and there have been many times where she carries the team on her back.

Hawkins said Juriga's overall game has improved, evidenced by a selection to the Plainfield North tournament to start the season and her play throughout it.

“She has become our most consistent and also has one of the highest hitting efficiencies on our team, Hawkins said. “She rarely makes any hitting errors. She has shut down some of the best outside hitters in the state, let alone in our conference.

Record setters: Another player who made all-tournament at Plainfield North Rosary's Haley Norris set the Royals record this year in career digs with 723.

Norris might have company in rewriting the record books. Setter Lindsey Juriga, a three-year starter, just passed 1,300 assists and is closing in on the school record of 1,403.

Both Juriga and Norris will continue playing college volleyball next year at Washington University and Northern Illinois, respectively.