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Neuqua Valley defeats Downers Grove South

Even on a team with nine seniors and six returning starters, Neuqua Valley junior Kora Kauling doesn't have to take a backseat to anyone.

"I feel like I'm still a leader on the court," she said. "Everyone respects each other no matter what age or if they have seniority. The entire team respects each other, whether they're on the bench or on the court or if they're a senior, junior or a sophomore."

Kauling earned a little respect from Downers Grove South on Monday. The 6-foot-2 setter/rightside hitter had 11 assists, 4 kills and 2 aces to lead the Wildcats (6-3) to a 25-20, 25-18 nonconference victory in Naperville.

Kauling played on the junior varsity level last year when the Wildcats watched their season end with a 25-17, 23-25, 25-15 loss to St. Charles North in the regional semifinals. She senses that the seniors are determined to make a deeper run this fall.

"They definitely are really determined this year and they really want this year to be successful," she said. "They're really working hard and pushing everyone to work hard together to make this year successful."

Neuqua Valley wasn't too successful early Monday, falling behind 9-2 in Game 1. But there was no panic on the Neuqua Valley side of the net.

"Since we're mostly seniors, we're used to getting into little holes now and then," Kauling said. "They know to stay calm and fight it out."

A kill by Alexis Douglas gave Neuqua Valley the lead for good in Game 1 at 18-17, and Hannah Ramsdell's ace off the tape extended the lead to 24-20.

"We knew Downers Grove South was going to be really, really good," Neuqua Valley coach Kelly Simon said. "They did some nice things defensively in Game 1. Their libero dug really well and their rightside got a bunch of big kills. We needed to be on our 'A' game, and not on our 'B' game."

Neuqua Valley founds its "A" game midway in Game 2, breaking an 11-11 tie with a 7-1 run behind two Kauling aces and a Maria Mayhew kill.

Claire Grove had 5 kills, 2 blocks and 3 aces for Neuqua Valley. Six-foot-2 Oakland (Mich.) recruit Rachel Schneider paced Downers Grove South (6-4) with 6 kills and 2 blocks.

"Our serve-receive was just a struggle, and it took us out of both games," Downers Grove South coach Trisha Kurth said. "The one thing we always do well is we can always spread out our attackers. We have a great front row. It's just a matter of us getting the ball control part."

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