West Chicago takes Naperville Central to limit
Down 6-0 in the third set on Senior Night, the message was clear during a Naperville Central timeout.
"I just reminded the seniors that this was their last time playing here," Redhawks coach Brie Isaacson said, "and that they wanted the memory to be a positive one. After those six points we found a little fire."
Pushed to the limit by West Chicago, Naperville Central pulled out a 27-25, 22-25, 25-21 win in Naperville.
"We were a flat coming out," Redhawks senior Nicole Sarby said, "We knew we don't get a second chance to play here. We buckled down and finished."
Naperville Central's win cost West Chicago (19-10, 9-4 DuPage Valley Conference) a shot at playing Naperville North for a share of the DVC title on Thursday. But the Wildcats acquitted themselves far better than they did in a 25-14, 25-12 loss to Naperville Central last month.
"They came back and they didn't just roll over," said West Chicago assistant Regina Morrone. Head coach Kris Hasty missed the match with an illness. "Unfortunately, losing this means we can't tie for first in conference. The girls are pretty bummed about it, but they're going to come back Thursday and then get ready for the second season."
A Kathy Fletcher kill gave West Chicago a 6-0 lead in the third set, but after the timeout Sarby put down a kill and freshman Alysia Basnik served an ace. A Basnik kill, one of her 3 in the set, gave Naperville Central (19-15, 9-4) the lead for good at 15-14.
Baznik and seniors Rachael McGee and Taylor Daley all were subbed in during the third set.
"I started flipping people in," Isaacson said. "We were a little flat and needed a spark."
A West Chicago error, Sarby kill and block and Katie Battle ace made it 19-14.
West Chicago pulled within 21-20 on a Redhawks error, but 2 Dani Kuhn kills and a Mary Pollard ace put the match away.
Naperville Central took a commanding 24-18 lead in the first set, before 3 errors and 2 kills by West Chicago middle Emily Paschke started a 7-0 run to put the Wildcats at set point, up 25-24. But a double contact call and two Chloe Lupina kills, the second off a West Chicago defender, allowed the Redhawks to escape with the first set.
"As the match went on West Chicago got better and better. I'm glad it wasn't best three-of-five," Isaacson said. "We knew they were good. We felt lucky the first time we played them that they never caught rhythm."
The Wildcats took the second set on the strength of 5 Paschke kills, 4 from Quin Gable and 3 from Fletcher. Two Fletcher kills, the second on an overpass, gave West Chicago the lead for good at 10-9.
"Hasty's not here because she's sick and some of the girls are feeling the same way," Morrone said, "but they pushed through the match and did pretty well. They didn't want to lose this one."
Kuhn had 13 kills and Sarby 9 for Naperville Central.