Batavia clears Waubonsie Valley hurdle

It may not count toward the actual conference standings but Batavia's 25-23, 25-20 volleyball victory over Waubonsie Valley Thursday night was significant on plenty of levels.

Playing their first Upstate Eight Conference crossover match, the Bulldogs raised their record to 2-0 while accomplishing something they hadn't done in quite a while against the visiting Warriors (1-1).

"We haven't beaten a Waubonsie Valley team in 20 years so this is really big for us," said senior outside hitter Caitlin Piechota, who delivered a team-leading 9 kills to go with 7 digs. "It's very, very exciting. We knew Waubonsie was going to be a tough team. We prepared for them for the past week. It's a great win."

"We've probably played them seven or eight times over the past 20 years," said Batavia coach Lori Trippi-Payne, who was in her fourth season at the helm during the Bulldogs' last win over Waubonsie in 1990.

"We go to their tournament every year so we've seen them quite a few times at their place and we used to play them back in the 1990s when we were both in the Little Seven (Conference)."

The Bulldogs won both games in similar down-to-the-wire fashion. The opener featured 10 ties before Batavia went on top for good at 23-22 on a kill from junior Mary Nilles (8 assists, 3 block kills). Piechota, a Western Carolina recruit, then sealed the Game 1 victory with a left-handed kill from the left side followed by a right-side kill on game point.

"We just came out knowing we had to fight really hard," said Piechota. "We had a lot of energy."

There were nine lead changes in the second game before the Bulldogs finally took the lead for good at 17-16 on a kill from junior Mary Kate Bryant (9 assists, 4 kills). Bryant also helped set up the final two points of the match with perfectly executed back-sets - to Piechota and Nilles.

"I thought we served and passed well and it kept our offense in system for the most part," said Trippi-Payne. "I thought we passed better than they did and I also thought that we blocked very well tonight."

Junior Kaytlin St. Clair paced the Bulldogs with 4 block kills, while Stephanie Kinane added a team-high 10 digs and pair of aces.

"I know that we can play with the Upstate Eight teams," said Trippi-Payne, "but to take it in two games is pretty amazing, and we had to play well to do it."

Martha Stewart and Melissa Beckman had 5 kills apiece for Waubonsie.

"You can't win when you make that many unforced errors," said Warriors coach Kristen Stuart. "I thought we got a little tentative and a little nervous. I just know how much better than that we are. "I think this will show them where they need to be."