Naperville North gets down to business

Naperville North was not doing a lot of whoopin’ and hollerin’ in the pregame huddle before its boys volleyball match against Evanston.

Oak Park had just beaten the Huskies in three games on Friday in pool play at Wheaton Warrenville South’s ninth annual Tiger Classic. No time for giddiness.

“We just knew that we can’t lose two matches in this. It was more businesslike the second match, we knew we needed to take care of business,” said Huskies senior outside hitter Shane Witmer.

Naperville North (6-2) beat Evanston in two games, 25-13 and 25-18, showing cohesiveness it lacked during Oak Park’s victory, 25-14, 19-25, 25-15.

“We were all a little upset that we lost,” said Naperville North libero Danny Boryca. “We didn’t know what happened, but coach (Nathan) Bornancin kind of brought us together and told us to keep our heads up and come out firing the next match.”

The Huskies weren’t exactly on fire early in the first game against Evanston, a match which provided lasers by each team’s No. 5, Witmer and the Wildkits’ outside hitter, Shaquille Kennedy.

Leading 10-7, however, Naperville North’s Ryan Loughlin held service during a 6-point run. The Huskies capitalized on the same things Oak Park did against them in the prior match. Mistakes.

“We just knew that if we kept the ball inbounds, make them pass, they’re not a very good passing team. So we did that,” said Witmer, who had 10 kills against Evanston and 23 on the day.

Unable to string together two straight points until too late, Evanston lost the first game when it stepped into the net.

The second game, which offered an epic volley featuring Boryca’s dig of a ball redirected by a basketball backboard suspended near the ceiling and finished by outside hitter Spencer Sauter, saw Naperville North extend a 4-4 tie to a 15-11 lead.

Boryca, who had 24 digs over the two matches, controlled service as the Huskies went up 19-11, Sauter beating a block on the last point.

Evanston mounted a slight rally to pull within 24-18 when Kyle Losik exploded from the middle to hammer home his third kill of the match from John Gorey’s assist, his 22nd. Steve Massoni had 27 assists in the Oak Park match.

Improved communication and realignment from a 6-2 set helped Naperville North reach the Silver playoff bracket Saturday against Andrew.

“I think going 5-1 for the whole match, it’s what we’re going to end up probably sticking with the rest of the season,” Bornancin said. “I think that’ll keep some consistency between our hitters and our setter.”