North learns to finish what it started

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The first part of the Downers Grove North girls volleyball season was characterized by the Trojans' habit of building leads early in matches against powerful teams and then squandering those leads down the stretch.

They found it difficult to finish.

That all changed in the second half as the Trojans lclosed the regular-season schedule with a 10-match victory streak.

Downers Grove North (25-10) starts the postseason Oct. 29 in the semifinals of the Neuqua Valley Regional, as the fourth-seeded team in the talent-packed Lockport Sectional behind Benet, Hinsdale Central and Naperville North.

"We were a little inexperienced early on and suffered from inconsistency," Trojans coach Mark Wasik said. "We'd get a lead and then we couldn't finish matches without a letdown. But, I believe we've gotten over that hump."

Among the teams Downers Grove North were leading and then let getaway were: Sandburg, Benet and Naperville North.

"You should be able to sign, seal and deliver the match when you have a seven- or eight-point lead," Wasik said. "Even when it's against a team that's supposed to beat you."

Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Kasal, a team leader, missed some time after being injured during a loss to York, and the team struggled without her.

However, the silver lining is that Marissa Koszewski, who stepped in nicely, now gives the Trojans an extra player with starting experience.

Now with Kasal back to match fitness, and the other weapons the Trojans have, Wasik is expecting a cohesive, competitive team to start Oct. 29'ss regional.

Senior outside hitter Britta Baarstad, who has been chosen for the all-tournament teams at the Wheaton Classic, and both the Waubonsie Valley and Downers Grove North Invitationals, is the go-go player, while Kasal, setter Sam Marek and the twin defensive dynamos, sisters Robyn (libero) and Sarah (defensive specialist) Eggert are among the Trojans capable of matching up with just abut anybody in the state.

"The key for our team in the playoffs will be to not let teams go in runs," Wasik said. "We have to guard against that old habit of making a mistake and not being able to shrug it off. It then would turn into two or three mistakes. On the flip side, we have the ability to get really hot and go on streaks ourselves."

The Trojans' confidence is boosted by the fact that they showed they can compete with top teams such as Benet, Hinsdale Central and Naperville North.

"We're pretty balanced offensively and we're solid defensively," Wasik said. "When we're playing our best volleyball, we're minimizing our errors. We're turning nice defensive plays into solid and aggressive offensive plays. We're converting points that the opponent would have gotten into our own points."

The Trojans play the winner of the Plainfield Central-West Aurora match at 7:30 p.m.

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