Girls volleyball: St. Charles North battles past West Chicago
St. Charles North volleyball coach Lindsey Hawkins has a quick remedy for the sauna-like conditions her team has faced in the school's gym this week.
A much-welcomed day off from practice on Friday.
The North Stars (7-1, 1-0) battled the elements and some midgame serve receive issues during their 25-21, 25-22 Upstate Eight Conference River Division triumph over West Chicago (0-3, 0-2) Thursday night in St. Charles.
"It has been like this all week," Hawkins said of the hot and humid playing and practicing conditions. "I feel it has really taken a lot out of the girls. That's why we're canceling practice tomorrow because we just need to rest."
Playing without Northwestern-bound outside hitter Daley Krage (coming back from the flu) in the first game, the North Stars jumped out to an 8-1 lead thanks in part to back-to-back aces from senior Nicole Thrun.
However, the Wildcats fought their way back, tying the game at 15-15 off a North Stars' hitting error.
Moments later, West Chicago grabbed its first lead, 21-20, on a crosscourt kill by junior outside hitter Molly Howard.
The North Stars regrouped and rattled off 5 consecutive points to take the opening game, ignited by a co-block by Claire Anderson and Jordan Silvers, an ace from Anderson and Anna DuVall's middle kill.
The late run also included a severe angle kill from sophomore Amanda Parker (3 kills).
"She's learning a lot," Hawkins said of Parker. "She's naturally a setter and she's a lefty. That's a great asset to have on the right side. She has been getting better every day."
In Game 2, St. Charles North scored the first 3 points and held early leads of 4-1, 6-3 and 7-4 before the Wildcats answered.
"We're still kind of a young team trying to get to know each other," said Wildcats coach Kris Hasty. "We like to dig ourselves into a hole and I'm not sure why. We have to be come out more aggressively - especially early. We're not real sure of ourselves yet."
Led by sophomore outside hitter Laura Katarzynski (13 kills), the Wildcats once again staged a midgame comeback.
West Chicago took an 11-10 lead on a middle kill from junior Jennifer Orr and extended its advantage to 16-14 before the North Stars went on a 9-2 surge to retake a 23-18 lead.
The run included a pair of kills from DePaul-bound Anderson, who led the North Stars with 7 kills.
"She got on a nice roll," Hawkins said of Anderson.
"We came back and relied on each other," said Anderson. "I have great setters and great passers. We work together."
Hawkins came away impressed with West Chicago's defensive prowess.
"Ronni (Katarzynski) is an amazing libero," said the coach. "There were some balls that I thought were down for sure but they were not."
"The Katarzynski sisters are all over the court," said Hasty. "That's fun to see. They just go after everything."
After opening the season with 3 difficult matches against Glenbard West and the two St. Charles schools, West Chicago heads to the Willowbrook tournament this weekend.