Wheaton North makes shot count

In the reconfigured DuPage Valley Conference, each team only gets one shot at the other conference members. Wheaton North made its first salvo count.

Five-foot-11 outside hitter Grace Tiesman had 7 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks and 9 digs, 6-2 middle hitter Abby Tiesman added 7 kills and 2 blocks, and setter Brooke Syswerda added 13 assists to lead Wheaton North to a 25-18, 25-17 win Tuesday at Lake Park in both teams' conference opener.

Wheaton North (9-5) had to forfeit a conference win last year that cost it a league title, and this year, with the addition of Waubonsie Valley, Metea Valley and Neuqua Valley, teams only meet once in conference play. The importance of each match is magnified.

"Last year we had two chances to beat each team," Abby Tiesman said. "Now we only have one chance. We've got to get down to business and beat each team the first time, and it's definitely harder having to beat more teams."

The Falcons jumped out to an early 9-1 lead in Game 1 before staving off a rally that saw Lake Park close to within 17-14 on an ace by Sarah Battersby and two Wheaton North errors. The Falcons restored order with an Elizabeth LaBue ace and Grace Tiesman kill.

"The preseason was a time for us to figure out our weaknesses, practice and get through those," Grace Tiesman said. "We really cracked down on what we needed to fix before conference, and now that we're here, I can tell we've grown so much from the beginning of the season."

A tip by Allison Karpinski had Lake Park (5-4) even at 7-7 in Game 2, but a kill by Wheaton North's 6-foot-4 rightside, Haley Horner, capped a 10-4 run that put the Falcons back in control.

Libero Allie Maloney added 8 digs, junior setter Elle Holland had 10 assists and Horner added 5 kills for Wheaton North. Junior Jennifer Livesay led Lake Park with 4 kills and a block and Battersby added 11 assists and an ace.

"Wheaton North was a very good team to play against," Lake Park coach Tom Bergen said. "They're experienced and they're fast. Our freshman (libero Melina Colucci) has never had anybody hitting that hard at her. My sophomore middle (6-1 Caroline Gibbons) was getting lost out there. She wasn't sure where the ball was going. It was happening so fast."

Bergen is rebuilding a team that lost 11 seniors to graduation, so every match is a learning experience.

"We wanted to try to get 17, 18, 19 points each game, that way we know we're fighting," he said. "That's our goal, to keep fighting. The kids hung in there tonight."