Girls volleyball: DeKalb ends Batavia's season
After a hard-luck loss in the first set Tuesday, Batavia ran into hard-swinging Hannah Oehlberg in the second and the result was a 25-23, 25-12 season-ending loss in the Class 4A Kaneland regional semifinals.
The first set was as tight as it could get with neither team pulling ahead by more than 2 points. There were 14 ties and 6 lead changes.
Batavia (22-14) took its final lead at 21-20. DeKalb coach Jamie DiMaggio called timeout, and Oehlberg delivered a kill on the next point, then served an ace for a 22-21 lead.
Trailing 23-21, Batavia scored two straight on kills by freshman Cordelia Smith to tie it 23-23. DiMaggio again called time, and again it worked as a service error gave the Barbs set point, which they won when Batavia hit wide.
DeKalb (25-11) rode the momentum from that to a 9-1 lead to start the second set and never looked back.
"Credit DeKalb for playing really tough tonight," Batavia coach Lori Trippi-Payne said.
After 10 hitting errors in the first set, many by Oehlberg, the Barbs made just 3 in the second.
"They kept it together and shook off mistakes," DiMaggio said. "Instead of backing down they went harder.
"Hannah was faster than usual, she had that adrenaline going, so she was getting under the ball (in the first set). We just told her to keep swinging and she got back on her game in that second set.
The-IUPUI bound Oehlberg finished with 16 kills.
For Batavia, Smith and Maddy Boyer had 3 kills, Sam Juarez and Jenna Garrett had 8 digs, and Alexis Whelpley and Melissa Kozak had 2 blocks.
Batavia finished the season at 22-14 overall, and only 6 teams in school history won more games.
"I am so proud of this team," Trippi-Payne said. "We started the season with only four returners and we came a long way and had a great season."
The Barbs will play No. 1 seed St. Charles North (33-3) for the regional title. The North Stars beat them in 2 sets earlier this season.
"I remember us competing very well and making a lot of unforced errors," DiMaggio said. "I'm hoping my team is a little more crisp, more confident. St. Charles North is a very, very good team, it's unfortunate we have to see them early, but we will go out and do our best."