Girls volleyball: West Aurora holds off St. Charles East
The set-long West Aurora lead was history.
In the tiebreaking third game of an Upstate Eight Conference girls volleyball crossover Tuesday evening in Aurora, St. Charles East surged to a 2-point lead with an 11-3 run.
But the dramatic momentum swings characteristic of the entire third set had a final West Aurora flavor.
The Blackhawks capitalized on back-to-back St. Charles East errors after Gillian Jones' potential match-winning kill sailed a hair wide for West Aurora to send the third game into overtime.
The Saints' second error enabled the Blackhawks to escape with a 25-22, 13-25, 26-24 victory.
The Blackhawks' triumph was inconceivable without the brilliant all-around play of libero Ali Greenwood in the decisive set.
The senior had a pair of her match-high 5 aces in a 5-point service run to begin the third game.
"There's kind of a lot of pressure being the first server in the rotation for a new game," Greenwood said. "I like to get it done for my team and start us off strong."
The onetime outside hitter was only getting warmed up.
Grace VanDorn had another ace for West Aurora to cap an 8-1 start one point after Greenwood had the signature play of the final set. At least a dozen feet past her own service line and with her back to the net, Greenwood miraculously two-handed the ball 40-some feet in the opposite direction. The Saints' players were almost startled and unable to return the ball.
"I saw (the ball) ricochet off a few people," Greenwood said. "I ran and gave it everything I had."
"(Greenwood) is one of the most determined players I have ever coached," West Aurora coach Kevin Mortlock said. "She will never quit. Every play is 110 percent. She leads by example. She shows the other girls how to play."
But the Saints (0-2) would respond behind outside hitter Kyla Augustine.
The senior, who finished with a match-high 9 kills, engineered the Saints' methodical counterpunch.
"I think Kyla Augustine did a really nice job," St. Charles East coach Jennie Kull. "She hit the ball really well."
The Saints' Amanda Davidson had an ace to forge the first tie of the final game at 19-19.
Augustine and Ilona Wilsey had back-to-back kills moments later to reverse a 17-11 deficit into a 22-20 advantage.
"We have been trying harder to start off every game stronger," Augustine said. "Our energy and our team chemistry brought us together."
Kayla Battle followed a St. Charles East service mistake with a kill to tie the third set at 22-22.
The Saints had a collaborative block for a final lead, but West Aurora (3-4) scored 4 of the last 5 points for the hard-fought victory.
"It takes a lot of mental toughness throughout the entire game to finish strong like that," Greenwood said. "It just came down to everyone doing their jobs."
"I think, individually, a lot of kids did some really nice things," Kull said. "But, overall, we're just not putting it together as a team."