Host Waubonsie Valley showing improvement

Updated: September 21, 2011 8:00PM

They’re getting there.

An improving Waubonsie Valley volleyball team will plays host to 11 other teams Friday and Saturday in its Warrior Blast Tournament.

“For the most part, it’s going like I thought after we graduated eight senior players from last year,” said Waubonsie Valley coach Kristen Stuart, whose team is 10-8 overall and 2-0 in the league coming off Tuesday’s Upstate Eight Valley win in straight sets over Bartlett. “We’re definitely making progress.”

Sophomore right side/setter Rachel Minarick, who earned all tournament team honors at last weekend’s Wheaton Classic, has been a key player in the team’s improvement.

“She’s spent the last year setting (for her club team) at Sports Performance but she’s also hitting for us,” Stuart said of the second-year varsity player. “We run a 6-2. She could run a 5-1 for us but we need her to hit. She’s grown again, too. She must be 6-foot or 6-1 now.”

Key seniors stepping up are outside hitter and Northern Michigan recruit Lisa Stednicka, 6-2 middle and Winthrop University recruit Brittany Rampersad and backrow seniors, libero Lauren Clark and defensive specialist Gina Mancuso.

“Brittany is doing a good job. We’re starting to get her more involved in the offense,” Stuart said. “The biggest thing is we’re definitely coming together. We just need to continue to improve when it comes to communication and being able to play with each other and jelling.”

The Warriors appeared to struggle at Wheaton, opening with Wednesday night pool-play losses to Benet Academy and Libertyville. By tournament’s end, though, that performance didn’t look quite so bad.

“Turns out it was a pretty tough pool,” Stuart said. “Benet went on to win the gold (overall) pool. Libertyville was seeded third in our pool but took second in the silver division and we won the bronze division (in the 24-team event).”

The Warrior Blast field includes defending champ Hinsdale South, ranked 10th in Chicagoland by the Sun-Times and coming off a second-place showing to No. 1 Benet at Wheaton. Last year’s runner-up, York, has left the field, but are teams vying for honors will include Batavia, Rosary, Oswego and Neuqua Valley.

Also in the field are Bolingbrook, Plainfield Central, Downers Grove North, St. Ignatius and newcomers Lincoln-Way North and Rockford Guilford.

“I don’t know much about (the two new teams) but I’ve heard they’re both pretty good,” Stuart said.

Lincoln-Way North returned four starters this year from last year’s Southwest Suburban Red co-champs and entered this week 9-6 after finishing second to Providence last Saturday in the Oak Lawn Volleyball Classic.

Rockford Guilford currently carries a 6-1 record in NIC 10 play.

Kaneland carries a 12-4 and 2-1 Northern Illinois Big 12 East record into Thursday’s home match against Rochelle after Tuesday’s 25-23, 25-23 squeaker over a young Sycamore team.

Katy Dudzinski and Grace Fabrizius had seven kills each and Kylie Seibert 21 digs in the win.

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