DiNatale, Addison Trail have the last word
JoAnn DiNatale doesn’t know if she will play volleyball after this year.
If she doesn’t, she is finishing with a flourish.
The Addison Trail senior put down 12 kills among her many contributions in the Blazers’ 25-17, 25-23 win over Lake Park on Monday in Addison.
“It’s kind of sad, because I’ve been playing volleyball my whole entire life,” DiNatale said. “I’m a senior now, so I’m doing what I have to do.”
DiNatale, who sets and hits right-side, also contributed 9 assists, 2 aces and 4 digs.
She was particularly a force in the second set, when the Blazers needed her most. Addison Trail trailed 18-13 at one point but roared back and took the lead on one of DiNatale’s 9 kills of the set.
Blazers coach Jill Petrbok has seen DiNatale grow into a go-to player.
“I really think she’s found her niche,” Petrbok said, “where to be, what to do, when she can push and when she should play smarter. She’s made great improvements and really playing as a more mature volleyball player.”
The two teams traded three more ties, until a Lake Park error gave Addison Trail the lead for good at 23-22. Two more Lancers errors ended the match.
“It took a while,” DiNatale said, “but we pushed through and we got it.”
Lancers coach Tom Bergen could tell his team was in for a long night during warmups.
“I’ve got two teams,” Bergen said. “I have my team that played against St. Charles North, takes them to three games and plays great and hustles. And then I have my ‘B’ team, which is what you saw tonight. Same girls, not hustling. With this group, they are either on or they’re not.”
Addison Trail (15-13) also got a couple aces during its rally on nice jump serves by Sabrina Muell.
Jennifer D’Onofrio had 7 kills and 3 blocks, 6 of those kills in the first set that Addison Trail never trailed in, and Arianna Hawkins 10 digs.
Those two and DiNatale are three of a senior-heavy lineup that’s enjoyed a nice season, even with 6-foot-1 senior Marissa Pezzopane sidelined all year with a nagging ankle injury.
“I’m happy with our season,” Petrbok said. “The girls play hard, they mean business when they come to practice and they seem to like each other, which means a lot.”
Also a starter on Addison Trail’s basketball team, Pezzopane could need six more months of physical therapy.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed for Marissa,” Petrbok said. “She’s been here for every practice and every game. She’s such an important part of this team and really been a great sport and a big part of the team even if she isn’t contributing on the court.”
Lake Park (12-13) did get 7 kills and 2 blocks from senior middle Alexis Hahn.
The Lancers have spent most of Bergen’s first season as varsity head coach over the .500 coach. Bergen, looking ahead to next Tuesday’s regional match between No. 9 seed Lake Park and No. 8 Wheaton Warrenville South, would love to grab a playoff win — rare for the school.
“We’ve had a lot of positives and a lot of improvements happen this year,” Bergen said. “Our goal is to just keep improving; this was a setback.”