Naperville Central earns two big victories

Ruby Gill is winning the fight against breast cancer.

Doctors gave the the Sarby family's neighbor and sitter to their daughter Nicole six months to live. Arrangements were discussed to have the Sarbys take legal guardianship of Ruby's teenaged daughter if she passed away.

She lived. But ladies like Ruby need support.

And so seven years after that diagnosis Ruby was in attendance Tuesday evening at Naperville Central as Nicole Sarby and the Redhawks hosted Wheaton Warrenville South for Volley for the Cure.

"She took care of me every single day when she was still fighting breast cancer," Sarby said, "so she means a lot to me."

Naperville Central won the match 25-22, 25-17. The most significant number came after the match, though, when it was announced that the two programs had raised $20,000 to be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in the fight against breast cancer.

Sarby, like all the girls, "played for" people close to them affected by cancer. Ladies like Ruby Gill.

"We just wanted to make this night special," Sarby said, "because it's for a really good cause. Every girl in the program was involved with every detail. Just an awesome night."

Planning started in July, with weekly meetings. More than 2,000 pink T-shirts, many worn by fans in attendance Tuesday, were sold. Businesses were petitioned to donate for a raffle and silent auction. Baked goods were also donated.

"I equate it to planning a wedding," Naperville Central coach Brie Isaacson said. "Between (WW South coach) Bill (Schreier) and our program and the committee that we formed, it couldn't have gone any better. This is our one opportunity to put all of our differences aside and play for something that is bigger than us. To get to do what we love and to play in front of all these people made it that much better."

On the court Game 1 was befitting of two teams that split a pair of matches already this season.

Eight ties ensued, the last one at 21-21 on a kill by Naperville Central's Dani Kuhn. A Sarby block followed to give the Redhawks the lead for good, and Sarby's sixth kill of the game clinched it.

Tied at 6-6 in the second game, Naperville Central surged ahead 13-8 on 4 Sarby kills and 2 WW South hitting errors.

Kuhn finished with 11 kills and 2 digs, Sarby 10 kills, Emily Turkowski 25 assists and Courtney Abrahamovich 12 digs for Naperville Central (10-10, 6-3 DuPage Valley Conference), which has won five of its last six conference matches.

"I know we have a lot of fans here," Sarby said, "but during practice no one watches us. That's the time when it's most important to get better. These last few days of practice have been some of the most challenging practices, but they've helped so much. We've all toughened up, and it shows on the court."

Monika Stanciauskas had 8 kills and 3 blocks, Shealyn Kolosky 6 kills and Amy Drabant 18 assists for WW South (10-10, 4-5).

"My hat goes off to Brie and the parents and the parent committee - it really was an awesome night," Schreier said. "It's good for the girls that they can look back and know that they were a part of this."