Neuqua serves up win over Waubonsie
If Neuqua Valley is to raise its game to the level of preseason expectations, it will start at the service line.
Just ask Kelly Simon.
"Our serving was by far better tonight," the Neuqua Valley coach said. "We are a great, great serving team, and on Monday (a three-game win over Downers Grove South) we committed 17 service errors. That's despicable. They know it."
Tuesday was a good start in the right direction. The Wildcats committed just 6 service errors and never trailed in a 25-15, 25-23 win over Waubonsie Valley.
Senior setter Sam Skryd put down 3 aces for Neuqua Valley (6-1, 2-1 Upstate Eight Conference), which normally relies heavily on its jump servers.
"For some reason there's just been that mental block," Simon said, "but tonight there wasn't. Our aces outweighed our errors and kept Waubonsie off balance. Our serve should be a weapon."
The Neuqua gymnasium was full, but not just for the rivalry match. The two teams hosted Volley for the Cure Night, with ticket and raffle sales going toward the Susan G. Komen Foundation to fight breast cancer. Both teams wore pink T-shirts, as did many fans in attendance. This marks the second year Illinois high schools have hosted Volley for the Cure nights.
"This was awesome," Skryd said. "We never have a crowd like this, ever. To see everybody come out with their pink T-shirts supporting a great cause, it was awesome."
Neuqua dominated a fast-paced Game 1. The Wildcats effectively got the ball to Skryd, and the Baylor recruit knew where to go with it from there. Kills by Emily Tulloch, Nikki Federico and Skryd pushed the Wildcats out to an early 6-1 lead. With the margin 14-9 Neuqua rolled off five straight points on a Skryd block, Kate Kendall kill, Skryd ace and Tulloch kill.
A Skryd kill and double block by Tulloch and Skryd finished off the game. Skryd had 19 assists.
"That first game was a little bit faster tempo than what we've been playing," Simon said.
Neuqua roared out to a 9-1 lead in Game 2 behind 3 Tulloch kills and 2 Skryd aces. It was still 18-14 after a Kendall ace, but Waubonsie didn't go away easy. A Julie Rosa kill and Lisa Studnicka block pulled the Warriors within 19-18, and a Martha Stewart ace tied it. Waubonsie tied it two more times but never claimed the lead. At 23-23 Kendall put down a kill and a Beth Blackman flip finished the match. Federico had 8 kills and Tulloch 6 for Neuqua.
"We haven't been playing our best," Skryd said, "so this was a good win for us."
Nicole Salmon had 6 kills and 6 digs and Pyne Katie 3 kills for Waubonsie (5-2, 2-1).
"I was happy with how we came back," Warriors coach Kristen Stuart said, "but pretty disappointed with how we came out. We just really did not play well tonight and it started with our serve receive. Neuqua played much better. It was as simple as that."