Waubonsie Valley falls to Hinsdale South

Lisa Martinez knows how good her Hinsdale South team can be when whole.

Beating Class 4A favorite Marist the first night out this season was proof.

Finally at full strength again, Martinez’s 12th-ranked Hornets pulled away to beat No. 15 Waubonsie Valley 25-22, 25-12 on Thursday in Aurora.

“Tonight was good,” Martinez said. “I feel good right now because we’re 100 percent again. It’s hard to stick kids with roles into difference places. Now we’re 100 percent, which feels really good.”

Jackie Adelphia, missing in action recently because of injury, returned to put down 7 kills with 3 blocks, Jessica Brezwyn had 7 kills and 10 digs and Colleen Lyons 6 kills and 4 digs. Thursday’s match was the first since Marist where Hinsdale South (7-2) had its full lineup, playing in its set positions. Middle hitter Adelphia missed the Hornets’ loss at Joliet Catholic a week ago.

It is a team with seven seniors capable of duplicating the Hornets’ 2010 sectional championship playoff run.

“This match, especially the second set, we all contributed and worked really well together,” Brezwyn said. “I think we can do really well this year if we work together, if we’re all producing.”

Waubonsie Valley (5-5) isn’t nearly as experienced, starting two freshmen around standout junior Rachel Minarick.

The Warriors hung with Hinsdale South throughout the first set and halfway into the second, though. Waubonsie came back from an early 12-7 hole and was within 23-22 after a Katie Campbell block and Hornets service error. But Brezwyn maneuvred around a double block to deliver a crosscourt kill, and Rachel Kent served up an ace for set point.

Hinsdale South’s experience was evident in crucial spots.

“We know where to go with different shots,” Brezyn said. “We know at key spots we can pull it out.”

Waubonsie was within 10-7 in the second, Minarick contributing 2 kills, before Hinsdale South blew things open with a 10-1 run featuring two kills apiece from Lyons and Adelphia.

Waubonsie coach Kristen Stuart wouldn’t simply chalk up her team’s inconsistencies this year to the growing pains of youth.

“I know people probably don’t expect us to beat Hinsdale South, but I know we’re not playing up to our ability yet,” Stuart said. “At points in this match I thought we were competing, but there were a lot of times where I was frustrated and the team was frustrated. We’re not playing our best volleyball now. Part of it is being young.”

Martinez proudly pointed to the fact that her team wasn’t aced once on serve-receive Thursday. The Hornets’ defense was also much more persistent in the second set, continually keeping rallies alive by digging out Waubonsie.

“Game 1, back and forth, a little bit of a dogfight,” Martinez said, “to bring it together and play as well as we did in Game 2, that’s a good way to end the night.”

Minarick had 7 kills, Becky Breuer 3, Kelly Skotnicki 9 digs and Noelle Linden 7 assists for Waubonsie. Sharon Anderson set 24 assists for Hinsdale South.