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Boys volleyball: Waubonsie Valley surprises Naperville North

A team may struggle during a season, but it's never too late to improve. The Waubonsie Valley boys volleyball team is an example of that.

The 2019 season hasn't been easy for the Warriors, but Thursday night showed the squad continues to work on its game and strive for momentum.

Waubonsie went toe-to-toe with host Naperville North and went home a 25-23, 26-24 winner.

The victory pushed the Warriors to 5-19 and 1-4 in the DuPage Valley Conference.

"We came out strong and when (the Huskies) scored a point, we bounced back," said Warriors junior Standly Laguerre. "Every day we try to get better and win every game."

Waubonsie coach Noel Soto said this was going to be a season of needed growth.

"We knew we would have to work with being so young. We graduated 11 seniors from last year and this year we have more underclassmen than seniors," he said. "We are beginning to jell at the most important time of the year. just before the postseason and we would like to do what we do every postseason."

The Warriors are a 21st seed in the Hinsdale South sectional. Sectional pairings will be posted Friday at ihsa.org.

It was the type of match where a 3-point advantage was the biggest lead either team had over the course of the evening.

Game 2 saw a serving error by Waubonsie pull the Huskies to within 24-23. A Warriors hitting error tied the contest before freshman Michael Lu's kill put the Warriors up 25-24 and gave them the ball back.

Naperville North (16-14, 3-2) was then called for a out-of-rotation fault that clinched the game and match for the Warriors.

"I think our passing was the key. It comes with communication. When there's no communication, you can't pass well," said Warriors sophomore Ben Schwieger. "We've come a long way from the opening match against York that began the season. We need to peak before the playoffs."

Waubonsie returns to York for its tournament Friday and Saturday.

After an early Warriors lead, Naperville North grabbed an 11-8 lead in Game 1 on a kill by Kevin Doran and the Huskies held on to the lead, for the most part, until a Naperville North hitting error tied the game at 18.

A block and kill by Laguerre helped put Waubonsie up 20-18. A serving error by the Warriors, a kill by Doran and an ace from Chandler Olson put the Huskies back out in front 22-20.

Naperville North hitting errors put Waubonsie up 23-22. A kill by the Huskies' Julian Roque knotted the game at 23.

Another kill and block by Laguerre dried the ink on the Warriors' Game 1 victory.

Naperville North, a ninth seed in the Hinsdale South sectional, returns to action Tuesday at Naperville Central, and coach Nate Bornancin is trying to get the Huskies to regroup.

"(The Warriors) outplayed us. We were a little hesitant to make a play. We are struggling with a mindset that is not of success and that has to change," he said.

"We haven't been playing at the level we expect. We need to stay positive and work hard."

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