Teams turn focus to second half
The Geneva girls volleyball team never has a bad season. The Vikings always reload with talent, they are always competitive in the Western Sun Conference and are strong at all positions.
This year is no exception, as Geneva is 17-1 overall and 7-0 in the first round of conference play (through Wednesday's matches).
"I'm always pretty optimistic," Geneva coach KC Johnsen said. "If anything, I always have a little higher expectations. I always like our chances. We'll take it."
"It feels good," Geneva's Kelsey Augustine added on the conference record. "I hope we get the second half the same way. We are excited to have a good record."
No conference opponent has yet to take Geneva to three games and its only loss was to Joliet Catholic at their own tournament early in September.
Serving and hitting has been the two best things for Geneva this year.
"We have some players with a pretty wicked serve," Johnsen said.
Aurora Christian: October may be Breast Cancer Awareness month, but Eagles coach Nicole Andersen thought it would be a good idea to give it some recognition a little early. "Volley for the Cure" took place Tuesday at Aurora Christian against Private School League opponent Illiana Christian at all levels of volleyball.
Fans were encouraged to wear pink, make donations to the Susan G. Komen Foundation and purchase T-shirts for $10. Volley for the Cure was created as a way to honor and celebrate the fight against breast cancer.
Andersen said the turnout was amazing, despite the varsity's loss in two games. She added the advance donations and attention for the day was overwhelming as well.
"It was amazing even before it began," Andersen said. "It was awesome. I'm so thankful and so grateful."
What made the night even more special was Andersen's grandmother, Delores Johnson. Johnson, a 75-year-old great grandmother of one and grandmother of 8, has been in remission for 8 years. She sat on the bench with Andersen as an honorary coach.
"She's always been there for me, even as a coach," Andersen said.
Andersen said the volleyball program is probably going to do something like this every year. Other sports in the fall and winter may participate as well.
Batavia: No one can ever say Bulldogs coach Lori Trippi-Payne doesn't do her homework on Batavia's opponents.
On Tuesday, she displayed pages and pages of notes (7 pages to be exact) on the Bulldogs' biggest rival, Geneva, which beat them handily in two games.
"We had them scouted really well," Trippi-Payne said. "We knew exactly what they were going to do in every rotation. We practiced all day long (Monday). We knew what we were going to run."
Geneva and Glenbard South are Batavia's only two losses in conference play (5-2). Through Wednesday's matches, the Bulldogs are 11-7 overall and are about where they thought they would be at this point in the season.
"Maybe one or two more in the win column overall, maybe 13-5, but I knew there were some things we needed to do a little bit better this year, and one of those things was to become a better serving team," Trippi-Payne said. "We knew our passing needed work as well. We struggled at the beginning of the year, but have been better with it as the year has gone on."
St. Charles North: The North Stars are 10-9 overall, 4-2 in the Upstate Eight Conference this year (through Wednesday's matches). It's not exactly what the program is used to, but coach Lindsay Trudell said her team is just a few wins off from being where she thinks they should be at this point in the year.
"I wish we were closer to 15 (wins)," she said. "In general, I am pleased with the way we have served. I think that will continue to help us down the stretch."
Of the North Stars' losses, Trudell listed Benet (twice), rival St. Charles East and Naperville North as the toughest opponents.