Downers North battles from start

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Defending its state championship is already proving a tough task for Naperville Central.

It took three games for the Redhawks (1-0), who won last season's Class 4A title, to top visiting Downers Grove North (0-1) on Sept. 2.

Central took the first game 25-14 as nearly every break seemed to go its way. Downers Grove North won the opening point but then saw the Redhawks string together four straight points.

Central tied it at 1 on a promising sign of things to come: the ball rolled around an overhead basketball backboard and cascaded down to North's side of the court, where the ball promptly was lofted into a light fixture hanging from the ceiling.

Central outside hitter Meghan Bray (11 kills, two aces) served an ace to make it 12-5. That delivery hit the net and dropped safely away from Trojans passers.

Redhawks outside hitter Emily McGee also posted strong numbers with seven kills, six digs and a pair of aces.

"The first matches are always difficult because you're working out all the kinks," Central coach Brie Isaacson said.

Indeed, kinks surfaced for both teams throughout the match.

Downers Grove North got out to an 11-3 lead early in the second set and hung on to win 25-16.

"(The Redhawks) came out really strong in the first game," the Trojans' Ryan Lally (10 assists) said. "We played so well as a team the second game. As a team, we need to step it up one more step for the third game."

Lally is the only senior on this year's edition of the Trojans.

"I told (my teammates before the match) just to come with an open mind, stick together and be excited," she said. "The main thing was (to) play as a team."

Downers Grove North's Sam Marek raced over near her team's bench in Game 2 to keep a ball alive and the Trojans eventually earned the point. That play gave Downers Grove North a 9-3 lead and highlighted a rally.

The Redhawks proved resilient in the third set. Central seized a 5-1 lead early before middle hitter Nicole Ramey's block put her team up 8-3.

"Even us losing that (second) game was a benefit to us as a team," Isaacson said.

Central came into the match confident but fully aware it could not take the Trojans for granted.

"I think in the second game, we lapsed in communication," said senior setter Kelsey Hoey, who had 32 assists.

"The third game, we really wanted it and came back. They wanted it and we just had to settle down and do our thing."

Trojans coach Mark Wasik found reason to be upbeat following the match.

"We came out really strong in Game 2," he said. "(Our girls) certainly didn't die after that first game didn't go our way. (Central) recaptured that momentum at the end of Game 2 and it carried over in Game 3."

Also contributing for the Trojans were Britta Baarstad (five kills, two aces, five digs), Diana Riggs (four kills) and Sarah Eggert (seven digs).

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