Timely timeout gets Naperville North reset

Sometimes a coach can call a timeout at just the right time and give his team just the right message.

That's what Naperville North coach Roger Strausberger did in Game 2 of the Huskies' regional semifinals match.

The Huskies (19-16) had already won Game 1 25-23 over visiting Glenbard West, but Game 2 was getting away from them when the Hilltoppers (19-15) took the lead at 14-12.

That's when Strausberger called time and reminded this troops how much they needed a sideout.

"After we gave up 6 points in a row, we needed that timeout," Strausberger said. 'We had to get our composure back and our momentum back. And we did."

The Huskies surrendered one more point but went on to play some of their best volleyball of the year in marching to a Game 2 25-22 win over the Hilltoppers.

Naperville North will meet defending state champion Wheaton Warrenville South, which topped Proviso West 25-16, 25-11, in tonight's regional final.

"During the timeout when we were losing, the coach told us middles that we had to get up in the air during transition and in serve-receive," said middle hitter and co-captain Colin Ball. "We did that and we finally started getting hits and kills in the middle."

Ball said Strausberger challenged the players to get out of their comfort zones and play the way he knew they could.

"In the second half of that game, we were talking more," Ball said. "People were screaming for the ball. We got everyone on the other side moving. We were confusing them and staying focused on our side."

"After that timeout we played with more confidence," outside hitter Sam Wilson said. "We saw how close it was and that it would go to three games if we played mediocre. We needed to step up."

Middle hitter Ray Birtcher had a pair of big blocks during a 5-point run that put the Huskies into the lead for good at 20-18.

Ball finished with 5 kills and 3 digs, Miguel Calvillo dug 13 balls and setter Ryan Kristensen used a variety of hitters and finished with 26 assists.

Shane Witmer was the Huskies' kill leader with 9, while Wilson added 6.

Both were outstanding in Game 1 as they delivered big kills on key plays in a seesaw affair that produced 16 ties and 6 lead changes.

Wilson's dramatic spike on game point wrapped up the first-game victory for the Huskies.

It was a frustrating evening for the Hilltoppers, who showed that they could run with the Huskies but just failed to close.

"Our defense was phenomenal," said Glenbard West coach Christine Mayer. "We were huge playing second, third and fourth balls. We closed the block better and got a lot of line shots. But when it came down to the end of the game, 16th, 17th, 18th point, we made unforced errors. Naperville North was a little more aggressive than our kids. We didn't challenge them enough down the stretch."

Sophomore Adam Lepold led the Hilltoppers with 10 kills, and Jonny Schmid smashed 6. Scottie Glotzbach has 4 kills and 3 blocks.