With McMahon back, Redhawks finding rhythm
Naperville Central girls volleyball coach Brie Isaacson was feeling good about her team when it won the Prairie Ridge tournament in early September.
Her feeling was short-lived, however, because two days later senior setter Megan McMahon was sidelined by an appendectomy.
"I can't believe this is happening," Isaacson said at the time. "We just got into a rhythm."
Without McMahon the Redhawks lost matches to Naperville North and Downers Grove North that week. They won seven in a row after that but then dropped a match at Wheaton Warrenville South for their third loss in the DuPage Valley Conference.
McMahon returned last week, and Naperville Central has gone 9-0 with her back on the court, including winning the Mizuno Cup last weekend.
It's obvious the effect McMahon has had on her team.
"Megan has great court awareness, so she can see what's happening on the other side and set a hitter that she feels on our side has the best chance of scoring, and that's experience," Isaacson said. "Megan set a whole season last year so she came back and really didn't skip a beat."
McMahon and the Redhawks will try to win two major tourneys in as many weekends when they head to Glenbard East's Autumnfest this weekend.
The setter is liking her team's chemistry.
"I really feel like we're coming together more as a team as the season's going on, and I think it's starting to show out on the court," McMahon said.
Defending Autumnfest champion Wheaton Warrenville South will be looking for redemption in the 24-team event. The top-seeded Tigers are coming off a disappointing sixth-place showing in the Mizuno Cup.
Joliet Catholic is the second seed at Autumnfest followed by Mother McAuley, Naperville Central, Benet, Rockton Hononegah, Lemont and Normal Community.
Hocus pocus:Œ"Do You Believe In Magic?" was the theme for St. Francis' Harry Potter-inspired team picture poster this season. After losing twice to Rosary in the Suburban Catholic Conference, the Spartans will try to recapture their magic as the top seed in the Maine West Pumpkin Tournament this weekend.
"I'm thinking the wand that I was carrying that day, yeah, I need to get that out of the car," St. Francis coach Peg Kopec joked.
Seriously, though, the Spartans will try to defend their Pumpkin title by shoring up their fundamentals. Among the areas they'll be looking to improve in is their passing and blocking.
"We're looking to finish strong," Kopec said. "What will that be? I don't know. I hope to be in the finals. I'm sure that'll take some doing, but that's what we're looking for."
Downers Grove South is the No. 2 seed in the Pumpkin tourney followed by Sandburg, Stagg, Hersey, New Trier, Lyons and Lockport.
The future could be now:ŒBenet coach Brad Baker saw his club sweep its way into the final of its tournament last week before confronting a big challenge in the championship match. The Redwings passed the title test, turning back Lemont 25-16, 19-25, 32-30.
"We needed a three-game match that was just close and nail-biting with pressure," Baker said.
Without a senior on its junior-dominated roster, next year figures to be Benet's year.
"Everyone wants to talk about that because you're juniors and you're young," Baker said after tipping Lemont. "But the more matches you have like this, the more experience you're going to have and the better you're going to be. You never know. If we continue like we have been playing, maybe this year and next year is ours."
Familiar rivals:ŒThe Napervilles have already met three times this season.
After watching her team win the first meeting only to lose the next two, Naperville North coach Jennifer Urban wants another crack at the Redhawks.
"Hopefully we'll have the chance to play them again," Urban said.
If the teams meet again this season, it'll be in the Naperville North sectional final.
He said it:ŒLisle coach Matt Hrubesky on whether it's harder to be a coach or a parent: "It depends on the day. There's a little coaching in parenting and there's a little parenting in coaching, I think, if you do it right."