West Chicago clinches tie for DVC title
Kathy Fletcher's block at match point only made it official.
It's been clear all year that no team can deny West Chicago in the DuPage Valley Conference.
The unbeaten and second-ranked Wildcats clinched at least a share of their first DVC volleyball championship in 31 years on Tuesday, rolling past West Aurora 25-14, 25-22 at Bishop Gymnasium. West Chicago (22-0, 11-0), which hasn't even dropped a game in conference, can wrap up the DVC outright by beating Wheaton Warrenville South Thursday.
West Chicago's previous DVC titles in volleyball were in 1974 and 1979, a fact not lost on Fletcher.
“It's exciting we look up there on the wall and see that we haven't won conference since 1979, Fletcher said, “so it's a huge deal for us. That's been our goal since the beginning of the season, is to get one of those plaques up there.
West Chicago's defense that starts with Fletcher and fellow middle Emily Paschke at the net and ends with Illinois recruit Julia Conard roaming the back row, was superb in a dominant Game 1.
Leading 4-3, the Wildcats all but put things away with a 5-0 run that started with 3 West Aurora errors, followed by a Payton Bayless ace and Conard kill off the block. The lead bulged to 11-4 on a Fletcher kill and a block by sophomore Andrea Skipor.
“Our defense and blocking has been great this year, Fletcher said. “We work well together as a team. Every team has a chance to beat us. We can't take anybody lightly.
Fletcher and Bayless each had 4 blocks and Paschke 3 for West Chicago. The presence of the 6-foot-2 Northern Illinois recruit Paschke was a concern of West Aurora coach Kari Nicholson.
“After the first game I reminded the girls of the things that we said that we were going to do when we play offense and when we play defense, Nicholson said, “and that was to be aware of No. 8 (Paschke). She's phenomenal. There's no way to go through her.
West Aurora fared far better in Game 2, grabbing a 10-9 lead on a Dazmine Chaney ace. West Chicago went ahead for good on a Paschke kill, Blackhawks error and Bayless block, and the Wildcats looked in control up 21-16 on a kill by Jen Konchar.
West Aurora closed all the way to within 22-21, Wisconsin-bound sophomore Lauren Carlini rising up for a block and Katie Ruhl putting down a kill.
But the Blackhawks were whistled for a net violation on the next point and Fletcher blocked Carlini to set up match point, also won with a Fletcher block.
Carlini had 8 kills and Kelsey Richmond 5 for West Aurora (18-9, 7-4), who will also see West Chicago in Friday pool play at the Autumnfest tournament.
“West Chicago has a great team. They have a big arsenal, Nicholson said. “We need to play the game that we can play. We had a little trouble doing that.
Fletcher had 8 kills and 4 blocks, Conard 6 kills and 2 aces and Paschke 4 kills. If West Chicago's celebration seemed muted it comes with the realization that the Wildcats perhaps have loftier aspirations down the road.
“Winning conference is a goal, West Chicago coach Kris Hasty said, “but you can't be satisfied. We know we have some things to work on. I think this could be the year for us. We need to keep in the back of our minds that we want to continue to improve and we'll see what happens.