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Naperville North still unbeaten in DVC

Life got even better for No. 7 Naperville North on Tuesday night when it stayed perfect in the DuPage Valley Conference by sweeping visiting Naperville Central 25-6, 25-23.

The win pushed the Huskies to 16-2 overall and 7-0 in the DVC.

Naperville North hitters were again a huge factor and players celebrating on the court afterward said that has been crucial to the success this season.

“I think it’s been how well our passing is. We run a clean offense with big hitters not afraid to be aggressive,” said junior setter Emily Kwak.

Two Naperville North players had at least 5 kills, including Lexi Turek’s 8 and Emily Mankowski’s 6.

Game 1 was all Huskies. Naperville North jumped out to a 4-0 lead, including an ace by Kwak, before Central’s Phoebe Havenaar slammed a kill that put the Redhawks (9-11, 5-2) on the scoreboard and gave them their first serve.

Later, a Redhawks hitting error put the Huskies up 13-4, and Naperville North finished the game up on a 12-2 run, which included 2 aces by Megan Wernette and 4 kills by Turek.

The Naperville Central team of Game 2 was much different than the one in the opening contest.

“In volleyball you have to believe you can compete. If not, a team can roll over you. I like how we were composed in the second game,” said Redhawks coach Jeff Danbom.

Naperville North jumped out to an 8-4 advantage, but Naperville Central came on big. With the Redhawks’ Andi Davenport serving, kills by Alex O’Brien and Quiana Ware, an ace by Davenport and a net violation and hitting error by Naperville North tied the game at 9 and the Redhawks were here to stay. Naperville Central enjoyed a 1-4-point lead until a kill by Turek tied the contest at 19.

Naperville Central tied it two more times before Turek struck with another kill to put Naperville North up 22-21, a lead it kept for good, but not without a fight.

The Redhawks got called for an illegal hit followed by a kill from Mankowski to put the Huskies up 24-21. Davenport’s hit and a kill by Havenaar cut Naperville North’s lead to 24-23, but Mankowski wrapped things up with her sixth and final kill of the night.

“Towards the end we picked it up and had more confidence than at the beginning,” Kwak said of the second game.

Clements led Naperville Central with 5 kills. Both teams are back in DVC play Thursday with the Redhawks finishing a three-match stretch on the road at Lake Park, while Naperville North plays host to Glenbard North.

“I knew we would see a much better (Naperville Central) team in Game 2,” said Huskies coach Jennifer Urban. “It was great to win in two.”

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