Neuqua Valley overcomes St. Charles North

There are big matches or games on every team’s schedule. They might have asterisks drawn next to them.

The Neuqua Valley boys volleyball team had one of those Wednesday against Naperville North, winning in three sets. When St. Charles North came to Neuqua on Friday night, Wildcats coach Erich Mendoza had to remind his team to reset its focus on the North Stars.

It took a little while. The Wildcats (3-0) were sluggish in the first set against a strong performance by St. Charles North that resulted in a 25-22 Game 1 win. But Neuqua got back on track to win the remaining games 25-15 and 25-20.

“It was a big match against Naperville North. It was very emotional. Our guys know their guys and the gym was packed. North finished second in state last year,” Mendoza said. “I was hoping that they would come out with the same emotion and intensity tonight and they didn’t come out that way.

“I’m not taking anything away from St. Charles North, but we came out flat in the first game. The second game was much more indicative of how we’re capable of playing.”

The North Stars (2-1) led most of the first set and took the lead for good when with Ryan Dal Degan serving, two Neuqua hitting errors and a block by Branden Hoerner put St. Charles North up 15-12. Later, Neuqua pulled to within 20-19, but the North Stars were able to stay in front the rest of the way.

“It was an all-around good peformance in the first game. The setting was on and that meant the hitting was on. The hitting was on and that meant the serving was on,” said Hoerner, who led the North Stars with 1 kills.

A hitting error by the North Stars put Neuqua up 18-9 in the second set with the teams exchanging points the rest of the way.

The third set saw Neuqua lead for most of it, securing its first 5-point advantage of the set when Ryan Cahill served up an ace to make it 17-12. Later, a serving error by St. Charles North gave the Wildcats another 5-point lead, the set and the match.

“We got our passing and hits going and started running our offense,” said Neuqua’s Connor Richardson. “To win we had to come together.”

Joseph Michael and Jake Gerald led Neuqua with 9 kills each.

“We always seem to go three (sets) with them,” said St. Charles North coach Todd Weimer. “We jumped on the first game and took control, we concentrated a couple of attacks. We made a lot of hitting and serving errors. It’s still early. We’re young.”

Both teams enter spring break next week with a light schedule. Neuqua travels to Geneva on Tuesday and resumes action April 3 at Bartlett. The North Stars are off until March 31’s West Aurora Blackhawk Invite.