ACC volleyball wraps up conference title

Believe it — the Aurora Central Catholic girls volleyball team is this year's Suburban Christian Conference champion in the Gold Division under first-year coach Jeanne Czipri.

The 24-year-old rookie varsity coach managed to push the Chargers to a 7-1 conference record after beating host Aurora Christian, 25-12, 25-20 on the Eagles' senior night and Volley for the Cure event Wednesday in Aurora.

"With a new coach, anything is possible," ACC's Victoria Swigart said. "(Czipri) is absolutely amazing...we are doing different drills, different plays (from last year). We are just doing so much more."

"I've been ridiculously blessed with a bunch of girls who have followed me," Czipri said. "They are buying what I am selling, taking what I am saying and running with it...I'm so blessed to have the kids, the program, the staff and the support from the AD (Mike Armato) behind me."

The Chargers improved to 21-8 overall and went 8-0 on their home floor. Their lone conference loss was to Immaculate Conception early in the season, but they avenged that earlier this week.

"I am so proud of them," Czipri said. "On Monday night (against IC), they brought me to tears — I was like a proud mom. It was amazing."

In Game 1, the Chargers scored the first four points — two of which came from a pair of Ashley Bohr's aces. Their longest streak was eight points behind the serving of Rachel Miller, who also posted two aces. By that time, ACC led 15-3.

The Chargers ended the set by scoring the final four points, thanks to kills from Ashley Wilk and Vivian Fitzgerald. Wilk also served up one of eight total aces.

"ACC was very consistent and very on top of (its game) as they have been pretty much this whole season," Aurora Christian coach Nicole Andersen said. "I think when they got a couple aces on us, we kind of lost it. We just never gained our footing."

Game 2 was much closer, as there was five ties throughout the set. The final knot was at 19, but Aurora Christian (13-14-1, 2-8) made back-to-back errors. Swigart followed that with a kill, forcing the Eagles to call a timeout.

ACC returned with a hitting error, but closed the match out by scoring the final three points. Swigart finished with five kills and so did Fitzgerald. Aurora Christian was led by Mallory Gilkey's three kills and two blocks.