Geneva nets key Western Sun win

Geneva and Sycamore's volleyball teams like taking turns atop the Western Sun Conference.

Well, like might be a stretch, but history says that's what they do.

And history says this is Geneva's year.

Sycamore claimed the crown in 2007, after the Vikings won in 2006, after the Spartans took it the year before.

If this is indeed Geneva's year, the Vikings are off to a good start after their 25-22, 25-22 victory Thursday night in Geneva.

"We want this more than anything," said Geneva junior Lauren Wicinski, who led both teams with 11 kills. "We're coming after everyone. Sycamore is always really good and we just matched up really well with them tonight."

Geneva (9-1, 4-0) started fast in Game 1, with several hitters getting involved. Wicinski and Katie Sommer had 2 kills and Taylor Whitley and Kelsey Augustine 1 each to build a 6-3 lead and force an early Sycamore (8-2, 3-1) timeout.

Those four continued doing damage throughout the first game. Setter Megan Odenthal found Wicinski and Sommer for 6 kills each in the game, which looked like it would be the Vikings in a breeze when they took a 21-14 lead.

Sycamore had other ideas. An 8-2 run brought the Spartans within 23-22. With the game on the line, Odenthal set Wicinski on the outside and then Sommer in the middle for the final two points.

Odenthal continued her strong play this year while taking over for star setter Jenny Pokorny, now at Valparaiso.

"Megan is wonderful," Geneva coach K.C. Johnsen said. "Losing someone like Jenny is a big hole and hard shoes to fill but I don't think we could have found anyone to fill them better."

The Vikings picked up where they left off in Game 2, again jumping to a 7-2 lead. This time Augustine was Odenthal's favorite target with 6 kills in the game.

Like Game 1, Sycamore rallied after falling into a 17-9 hole. The Spartans kept creeping closer, pulling as close as 24-22 before a lift on match point gave the Vikings a key early-season conference win.

"We kind of relaxed and let down our guard," Wicinski said. "They are scrappy. We just had to fight back."

Augustine added 9 kills, Sommer 8 and Whitley 6. Maddy Kolquist set 3 assists and had a couple blocks.

Sycamore hopes to get even when the teams play again Oct. 14.

"We plan on winning it this year," Sycamore coach Debbie Klock said. "We're young, we have one senior. Three sophomores. "

The Vikings also are young. Whitley is the only senior in their lineup as they bid to take their turn again in the Geneva-Sycamore rivalry.

"We kind of used up our cushion but give Sycamore a lot of credit," Johnsen said. "They just kept coming back. We have a lot of respect for them. We'll go out to their gym later. Conference is really tough this year. It's going to be a battle."