Girls volleyball: Aurora Christian sweeps Warriors

Aurora Christian entered its Northeastern Athletic Conference matchup at Westminster Christian on Thursday short-handed, but the Eagles had a good backup plan.

With standout outside Cate Long sidelined by an ankle injury, normal setter Kaitlyn Beebe moved to the outside. Beebe supplied plenty of pop in the Eagles' 25-14, 25-16 victory.

"I used to play that in eighth grade so it wasn't that hard," Beebe said of the transition. Beebe is committed to Western Illinois.

Aurora Christian (2-0, 1-0) took early control of both games.

Beebe's smash put the Eagles up 12-5 in the first game. Long's sister, Jenna Long, had a tip kill to make it 20-11.

Beebe's blast put the Eagles up 22-12, and they closed out the first game when the Warriors (1-2, 0-1) served into the net.

Westminster Christian (1-2) again fell behind early in the second game. Beebe's kill put the Eagles up 11-6.

Grace Schmitt delivered a couple key shots to keep the Lions alive. She tooled a ball to bring the Warriors within 20-11, and moments later she struck again to make it 22-12.

"I thought we played well tonight," Westminster Christian coach Guy Lum said. "She's (Schmitt) a utility player, can do everything for us. Plays every position."

Beebe's kill brought the Eagles to match point, and her ace finished off the Lions.

The Eagles return to action Tuesday against Keith Country Day, who knocked off the Eagles last year. The match figures to be a key battle in the race for this year's NAC title.

"We can't wait," Beebe said.

Cate Long is expected back as the Eagles take aim at a conference crown.

"We are really amped up to play them Tuesday," Eagles coach Amanda Curren said. "We have been practicing since January and really want to do well."