St. Edward sweeps Aurora Christian
The competitor in St. Edward girls volleyball coach Jaime Dovichi was less than thrilled initially when she learned her team was being dropped to the less-competitive Gold Division of the Suburban Catholic Conference for the 2011 season.
Dovichi's past teams, she said, benefitted come Class 2A playoff time from the rugged competition they faced throughout the regular season in the SCC Blue against Class 3A state powers like St. Francis, Rosary and Marian Central.
The coach with two state trophies to her credit through seven seasons at the Elgin Catholic school said her tune changed once it became apparent this year's St. Edward roster would include seven sophomores and two juniors with only three seniors to lead the way.
Such a young team may not have fared so well against the Blue Division powers, but the Green Wave steadied themselves in the Gold Division home opener Wednesday and knocked off an improving Aurora Christian squad 25-16, 26-24.
“Once I saw the outlook for my team this year I became very excited about the conference because we're going to get a lot of wins,” Dovichi said. “Teaching these kids how to win is a big thing we have not been able to do in the past. Before we said it was great competition to prepare you (for the playoffs), but it's really nice to get these young kids winning.”
St. Edward (4-3, 1-0) swept Aurora Christian (1-2, 0-1) despite the absence of sophomore middle Katie Swanson, who was unavailable due to a family obligation. Fourth-year varsity performer Sarah Norman, normally an outside hitter, played middle blocker instead for the first time in her career and contributed 4 kills.
However, after the Wave jumped to an 11-2 lead in Game 1 and rolled to a 25-16 victory, the Eagles bounced back with a more competitive effort in Game 2. Aurora Christian scored 5 straight points to take a 10-5 lead, boosted by libero Courtney Pendry's consecutive aces.
“We were able to connect with the setter (Taylor Knauf) better and really get our swings going in the second game,” said Aurora Christian's Emily Neely, who registered 6 kills and 6 digs.
However, St. Edward narrowed the gap to a lone point on three occasions and finally tied the game at 23-23, thanks to a hitting error by the Eagles. St. Edward junior Mary Kate Nastali then staked the Wave to their first lead of Game 2 by blocking the spike attempt of Aurora Christian's Faith Montalbano for a point.
“I was trying to figure her out, trying to read her and see what happens,” Nastali said.
A St. Edward service error granted Aurora Christian a brief reprieve, but the Eagles committed consecutive errors of their own on a tip attempt and the ensuing serve-receive, thus ending the match.
“They're a phenomenal team,” Aurora Christian second-year coach Andrew Palmer said of St. Edward. “I give them all the credit. They have great hitters, great passers, consistent passing.
“I just think it came down to execution for us. It was a close game and we missed a tip, missed a hit. It's fundamentals. The girls are more than capable of doing it, but they just didn't follow it.”
Danielle Huseman notched 5 kills for Aurora Christian while Knauf finished with 18 assists and 5 blocks. Pendry made 7 digs.
St. Edward senior setter Katie Ayello finished with 10 assists, 2 digs, 2 kills and an ace, The defense was led by sophomores Mallory Gross (8 digs) and libero Allison Kruk (6 digs).