Waubonsie Valley shows its character

The Waubonsie Valley girls volleyball team showed Thursday night at Hinsdale Central a trait that will help it the rest of the season if the Warriors continue to use it.

The Warriors (6-2) were down 18-10 in Game 2 and made it clear that no lead is safe against them. They went on to score 15 of the next 20 points and win 25-23 to take the match. Waubonsie won by the same score in Game 1.

The two teams had met just six days earlier during the Benet Invitational and the Red Devils (5-3) had prevailed then 25-21 and 27-25.

This time the Warriors cranked up the wattage.

"We had a lot more energy," said junior Taylor Dunwell, who with Brooke Burling, each led Waubonsie with 6 kills apiece. "Against them (Hinsdale Central at the Benet Invitational), we had them on almost every play but made a mistake at the end."

A kill by the Red Devils' Claire Cornell put Hinsdale Central up 18-10. Later a kill by Waubonsie's Lauren Howard put the Warriors to within 5 and Becca Fortsch took over serving. The first of two aces by her during her serving tied the game at 21. A kill by Dunwell gave the Warriors the lead at 22-21 and they never gave it back. Fortsch hit another ace and two Hinsdale Central hitting errors made it 24-22, Waubonsie.

Hinsdale Central got the ball back and a block by Lauren Fuller, who led her team with 11 kills, put her team to within one before a Dunwell kill sealed the game and the match.

"It wasn't that long between matches, but I enjoy playing them," said Waubonsie coach Kristen Didier. "Our passing could have been better, but our defense and heart made up for it especially that run at the end."

There were no big leads in Game 1 with 4 points being the biggest margin either team had. An ace by Waubonsie's Becky Breuer tied things at 17. A block by Caroline Cordes and a hitting error by Hinsdale Central put the Warriors up 19-17.

The Red Devils tied the game at 19 on a block by Cornell before the Warriors regained the lead for good with a Hinsdale Central hitting error and serving error clinching the opening-game win for Waubonsie.

"Definitely our energy was a factor and being cohesive as a team. One of our strengths as a team is believing that we are going to come back and that we refuse to crumble," Burling said.

Waubonsie gets back on the court Thursday with a 5:30 p.m. home match against Hinsdale South.

The Red Devils open West Suburban Silver play Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Downers Grove North.