Girls volleyball: Mitchell, West Aurora sweep East Aurora in regional opener

West Aurora’s Natalie Mitchell found herself at a crossroads coming into this season.

The 5-foot-8 senior outside hitter had to make a decision about what to do as far as college goes. Was her future going to include volleyball or would this season be her last?

She decided to not play in college, instead turning her focus on studying journalism at Kentucky.

“This club season was hard because I was back and forth,” Mitchell said. “I was in the middle of big recruiting stuff and then I was like, ‘I don’t even know if this is what I want to do.’

“To eventually come to terms with it and be like ‘I’m ready to move on,’ it was really tough.”

Mitchell knows her next match could be her last. She guaranteed at least one more time on the court in Monday’s Class 4A Downers Grove North Regional quarterfinals.

Finishing with a match-high eight kills, Mitchell also put away the winning kills in both games of a 25-22, 25-13 victory for the Blackhawks over crosstown rival East Aurora.

Aiyanah Vega added seven kills for West Aurora (9-22), which advanced to play the third-seeded host Trojans (25-9) at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the semifinals. Emma Gabel served five aces, while Zella Arseneau notched four kills.

Mariel Parra led East Aurora (3-28) with three kills. Adriana Rivera served a pair of aces.

West Aurora coach Alyssa Farney, meanwhile, has been with Mitchell for all four of her varsity seasons. She’s happy to see her get at least one more match as a Blackhawk.

“It’s going to be really sad to see her go,” Farney said. “I’m just really happy that she gets to play a really solid team (Tuesday) and hopefully win and keep going.

“I’m happy for her, but it’s a bittersweet moment for sure.”

Farney confirmed it took Mitchell a little while to get going early in the season after making such a big decision. As the season has gone on, though, she’s been her usual, dominant, versatile self.

“Everyone has their ups and downs and I think she was working through the fact she wasn’t going to play in college,” Farney said. “She’s overcome that a lot and she’s increased her kills a ton.

“Her defense has bene amazing. She has a ton of digs for us this season, a ton of aces. She’s just been a crucial all-around player for us. I’m really proud of her.”

East Aurora started each game strong before the Blackhawks pulled away.

The Tomcats forced a 15-15 tie in the first game before Mitchell’s kill ended things. Then, the score was 9-9 in the second game when Gabel got on a roll with her serve.

West Aurora scored 11 straight points to take control, with Mitchell producing back-to-back kills to close out the second game and the match.

“We were actually down two of our middles, so we had to change a lot of things,” East Aurora coach Jennifer Wilson said. “We had to implement a whole new rotation Monday last week.

“Things happen and we’re fortunate enough to have athletic girls that can make adjustments as needed.”

At the same time, Mitchell loves the fact that she was the one called upon to close it out.

“I’m so happy that my team can trust me to do stuff like that — last-point moments,” Mitchell said.

Wilson came away impressed with Mitchell’s game.

“She definitely can get up there and put it away and make adjustments she needs to at the net if the set isn’t there,” Wilson said.

While Mitchell is excited about her future, she’s still trying to live in the moment this week.

“This whole season has been a little emotional,” Mitchell said. “I’m ready to move on, but I’m still trying to soak all of this in.”