Naperville Central keeps West Chicago on the ropes

Two volleyball teams going in two very different directions looked the part Tuesday in Naperville.

No. 15 Naperville Central trailed only once the entire match en route to a surprisingly one-decided 25-17, 25-14 win over West Chicago.

Naperville Central (11-7, 6-1 DuPage Valley Conference) ran its win streak to four, while West Chicago (14-4, 3-4) lost for the fourth time in five matches.

“It starts in practice — we work very hard in practice,” Redhawks junior Nikki Connors said. “We prepare for these matches in practice and it shows on the court.”

If Redhawks coach Brie Isaacson wondered if there would be any carryover from last Thursday’s dramatic three-set win at Naperville North, she found out in the affirmative early.

Kendall Ward got the Redhawks on the board right away with a kill off an overpass for the match’s first point, a first set Naperville Central never trailed in. Two more Ward kills gave her team commanding leads of 16-8 and 17-9.

“Having Thursday happen for us — I would have been equally as proud had we lost that match,” Isaacson said, “but winning that match gave us the confidence that losing would have not. Our kids realize now that they can play with anybody.”

West Chicago, which started its season 13-0 before DVC losses to Naperville North, Wheaton Warrenville South and West Aurora, was its own worst enemy Tuesday. The Wildcats committed 21 errors, 7 from the service line.

A microcosm of the Wildcats’ troubles came on the match’s final point, when a West Chicago hitter swung and missed on a set for the 21st error.

“We’re not playing aggressively and we’re not playing real confident right now,” West Chicago coach Kris Hasty said. “There shouldn’t be this kind of gap between these two teams, although it’s looking like there is a gap right now.”

Naperville Central spread the wealth well at the net. Middles Connors and Sammie Condon combined to put down 7 kills early in the first set, Connors’ fourth kill carving out a 14-8 lead.

“The passes were on today,” Connors said. “It made the sets easy to get to and it just flowed for us.”

Ward ended up with a team-high 7 kills, Emily Borta and Emilie Bischoff 4 and Alysia Baznik 2. Baznik’s first kill started a 6-0 Redhawks run in the second set that turned a 13-10 lead into a commanding 19-10 advantage.

“It’s all ball control for us,” Isaacson said. “When we can handle the ball then you can get your middles involved, and then you start establishing your pin hitters it’s tough for a block to set up against. When you don’t pass and you just have one attacker it’s much easier to defend.”

Julia Conard put down 9 kills and Mary Kate Katarzynski had 4 kills, 5 blocks and 6 assists for West Chicago. Hasty is hopeful a Volley for the Cure home match with Glenbard North Thursday gives her team a much-needed dose of energy.

“We’re not playing with that same emotion. We need to get that back,” Hasty said. “This is what our conference is; there are tough matches night after night. We gotta be ready for it.”