Neuqua Valley no longer stuck on 22 victories

Far from content, Neuqua Valley sure was feeling relieved to finally find elusive win No. 23.

After four straight years of 22-10 finishes, the Wildcats cleared that hurdle with a 25-18, 25-11 win over West Aurora at Thursday's Class 4A Neuqua Valley volleyball regional semifinal.

Now No. 5 seed Neuqua (23-9) will go for its first regional championship at 2 p.m. Saturday against No. 4 Downers Grove North, a 25-17, 25-21 winner over Plainfield Central.

"That was one of our goals at the start of the year," said four-year varsity member Nikki Federico, who had 8 kills and 8 digs. "We were saying to each other last night that we have to get it. Hopefully we can keep going forward."

Federico tore the meniscus in her left knee against Lake Park two weeks ago and was held out of practice until Monday. She will have surgery after the season - but went against doctor's suggestions to stay out this week.

"He told me, 'You probably shouldn't play, because it could get worse,' " Federico said, "but it's playoff time. I want to play."

Neuqua never trailed in the match. At 7-5 in the first set after the Wildcats' third serving error Neuqua ran off 6 straight points with 2 Kate Kendall kills. Neuqua broke out to a 6-0 lead in the second set on a pair of Brigid Campbell kills and 2 Beth Blackman aces. West Aurora (14-18) struggled all match to pass the ball to standout freshman Lauren Carlini and set up its offense. Carlini had 4 kills and Whitney Holbrook 3 for the Blackhawks.

"We just couldn't get the pass up, and had serve receive trouble," West Aurora coach Kari Nicholson said. "It's hard to get points when you can't pass the ball."

Campbell had 5 kills and Emily Tulloch 2 kills and 5 blocks for Neuqua. Wildcats coach Kelly Simon knows a better effort is in order against a Downers Grove North team that beat Neuqua in three sets at the Waubonsie Valley Invite.

"We had a lot of errors tonight that just can't happen," Simon said. "That's not what we've looked like in practice the last week and a half. We're a lot better than that and we're going to need be to win the championship."

No. 13 Plainfield Central didn't go easy against Downers Grove North. The Trojans trailed 17-14 in the second set, but a pair of Jessica Tulacka kills and a Taylor Kasal kill tied it. A Plainfield Central lift gave the Trojans the lead for good, and Britta Baarstad's 12th kill ended it.

"Everybody just stay composed," Baarstad said. "That was nice to see."

Kasal added 9 kills and Alexandra Loufman 6 for Downers Grove North (26-10). Last year a No. 14 seed Trojans team bowed out quietly in the first round of regionals to Naperville Central.

"I knew Plainfield Central was going to be a touch match," Trojans coach Mark Wasik said, "and that's the kind of match I prefer. We got tested, the girls got pushed and had to play well. This whole season is a 180-degree turnaround from last year. I'm sleeping a lot more soundly."