Higher seeds survive scares in semifinals

Geneva's Kelsey Augustine (middle) was once considered a front-row player. The senior has developed her game and can play anywhere on the court. Beacon-news file photo

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The results played out according to form in the semifinal round of the West Aurora Regional, but not before the host Blackhawks and Oswego East put a bit of a scare in their higher-seeded opponents.

West, the regional's No. 4 seed, took the first game against top seed Waubonsie Valley before falling 19-25, 25-16, 25-18. In the nightcap, second seed Oswego overcame a late rally by crosstown rival Oswego East and prevailed over the No. 3 seed Wolves 25-15, 25-21.

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Geneva's Kelsey Augustine (middle) was once considered a front-row player. The senior has developed her game and can play anywhere on the court.

(Beacon-News File)

The Panthers will go for their second straight regional title (last year was their first) tonight at 7 against Waubonsie Valley.

Despite getting an effective power game from Connor Dougherty and Russell Penicock, the Warriors trailed in the opening game after Brian Wesley broke a 9-9 tie with a hit off a block. The Blackhawks, led by Wesley and Mike Schwerdtfeger, mixed up kills, blocks and pair of dinks to keep the more talented Waubonsie squad at bay.

But Warrior coach Alan Lagger inserted senior outside hitter Traeger Penicock into the second game, a move he says turned the match around.

"Traeger missed a practice yesterday, and when you do that, you don't start," said Lagger. "We had a sophomore hitting on the outside, but when Traeger came in we're a totally different team."

Waubonsie Valley (15-15) broke the second game open with nine straight points for a 13-4 lead. Then the Warriors, down 6-4, had a similar seven-point run to take control of the third game. Dougherty was particularly effective in the power game with 20 kills, but their were contributions spread throughout the Waubonsie lineup. Russell Pennicock added 11 kills and Traeger Penicock had 10. Defensively, Robert Wieland and sophomore Jordan James had six blocks apiece.

West Aurora's two seniors, Schwerdtfeger and Josh Sniezek, led the way as their team concluded its season with a 6-27 record. Sophomore Binali Khurshidov had six kills and three blocks for the Blackhawks.

Oswego started off slowly in Game 1 before bringing out the power game of seniors Jake Annala and Jake Wollenberg. Annala (six kills, four blocks) had two kills and a block in a 7-0 run that wiped out a 10-7 Wolves lead. Then Wollenberg put down three kills in the final nine Panther points and finished the game with an ace.

"Our Achilles heel all season has been given up a run every game," said Oswego East head coach James Milkert. "We seemed as if we were a couple weeks behind all year."

The second game followed a different pattern. Oswego (21-6-4) jumped to a 10-4 lead, forcing an East timeout. Then the Panthers got a little sloppy and Zach Silva registered points on a block and a kill to give the Wolves (12-17) a 19-17 lead.

That's when Wollenberg (nine kills, 11 digs) stepped up with a pair of kills. He ended the match with a serve that could not be returned.

"My sophomore Libero Alex Thompson (11 digs) stepped up and played well," said Oswego head coach Erica Lorenz. "Considering some lineup changes we've had, our guys played their role and played together. And Jake (Wollenberg), if he had it his way, he'd score on every single point."

Outside hitter Joey McGavin scored on six kills and a pair of dinks to lead Oswego East. Boys Volleyball: West Aurora Regional