Batavia’s serving dooms Wheaton Academy

Before the match even started, Wheaton Academy was docked a point for an illegal uniform.

It did not get much better for the Warriors in their nonconference girls volleyball match Wednesday night against Batavia.

The Bulldogs, behind a lethal one-two serving combination of captain Mary Nilles and fellow senior Meghan Fabian, manhandled Wheaton Academy with 8 team aces in racing to a straight-sets 25-8 and 25-20 victory in Batavia.

“(Batavia coach) Lori (Trippi-Payne’s teams) always serve tough,” Wheaton Academy coach D.A. Nichols said. “They’re obviously very good at it. We just didn’t execute.”

Batavia senior Stephanie Kinane ended all suspense in the first game with 4 quick service points, and the Bulldogs’ lead was soon at double digits behind the all-around play of four-year starter Nilles.

The Marquette-bound setter had the Warriors’ defense off-balance the entirety of the opener with her seamless floor play.

Jess Hartmann, who led Batavia with 5 kills, had one of her winners off one of Nilles’ 12 assists to cap a 14-2 Batavia run to start the match.

“The passing helps a lot,” Nilles said of the Bulldogs’ interior play. “It makes it easier to be deceptive.”

Wheaton Academy (1-1) had few answers for Nilles’ trickery around the net, and Batavia (6-2) was well in command when Fabian took the service reins.

Batavia held a comfortable cushion, and the Bulldogs’ defensive specialist proceeded to close out the first game with a 6-point service run punctuated by a trio of aces.

“We really focused on (serving) in practice,” Fabian said. “I was staying focused on my serve. I think we’re really excited about the season.”

The second game was the antithesis of the first, at least at the onset.

There were three ties in the first 18 combined points as Wheaton Academy found its rhythm behind junior standout Bianca Cifaldi.

The outside hitter had 5 of her match 9 kills to give Wheaton Academy its largest lead of the night at 11-9 in the nightcap.

“I wanted to help my team do well,” Cifaldi said. “The first game was definitely not how we play. We were getting down on ourselves.”

But Fabian and Nilles once again reversed the tide from behind the service line.

Fabian had another 4-point run featuring two Nilles’ assists, and the latter extended the Batavia lead to 21-12 with another 5-point run following a Batavia sideout.

“That’s what we’ve been working on,” Trippi-Payne said of the seniors’ service runs. “Fabian is a three-year (varsity) player. She really moves the ball.”

“We were excited about the first home game of the year,” added Nilles.

Wheaton Academy would rally behind back-to-back aces from Jennifer Schmitz, but Audrey Faulhaber’s let-ace was instrumental in Batavia closing out the match.

Batavia co-captain Kristen Koncelik added 4 kills and a pair of blocks for the hosts.