When senior outside hitter Sydney Wagner missed the first six matches of the season with an ankle injury, something was missing for West Aurora.
The Blackhawks suffered through a 2-4 start, and her absence was clearly felt. But since Wagner has returned to the fold, a more complete team has become the best version of themselves.
“I felt like I was stuck and I couldn’t do anything about it,” Wagner said. “I just wanted to get back in there with my team. It felt like a spark. Everybody’s connection was there.”
Wagner put together a signature performance at the right time Tuesday night with 14 kills as West Aurora pulled off a dramatic 25-23, 22-25, 25-23 Upstate Eight Conference win at South Elgin.
Although Wagner led the Blackhawks (18-8, 6-0) in kills, Natalie Mitchell added nine and Ellie Dobbertin had seven. Addison Taylor anchored the middle with three kills and four blocks.
Camryn Boyd was nearly unstoppable for South Elgin (18-7, 5-1) and ended up with a match-high 17 kills. Cassie Verley came through with nine kills and two blocks.
West Aurora coach Alyssa Farney knew her team didn’t have its mojo without Wagner in the mix.
“In tournament play, we just struggled playing fast-paced teams without Sydney,” Farney said. “She’s tall. She can jump. That helps us a ton. She’s always really calm, always very consistent.
“She’s the component that we needed all season.”
The 5-foot-9 Wagner had a starring role in the decisive third game Tuesday night.
West Aurora was already up 15-13 when she put down three big kills, one coming on a set to the deep corner, which was unoccupied. She put down a back-row kill for the match’s final point.
“Definitely a little stressful,” Wagner said. “But I felt that I needed to step up and take charge for the team.”
Farney was pleased that Wagner put together such a complete match against a quality opponent this close to the postseason.
“That match right there is the Sydney we need,” Farney said. “I’m really proud of her.”
Coming from an athletic family, Wagner has been surrounded by sports her whole life.
“My entire family is sports,” Wagner said. “I don’t think we have anybody that doesn’t play sports. Honestly, just watching, even if it’s different sports, I feel like I pick up a lot from that.”
That could be what has helped Wagner, who is committed to play at Waubonsee, have a calm demeanor during difficult times.
“You don’t have to worry about her having these highs and lows,” Farney said of Wagner. “She’s just there, and that’s an awesome thing to have.
“Sometimes, you tell her, ‘Hey, do this.’ And she’ll do it exactly how you need it to be done.”
While not thrilled with the outcome, South Elgin coach Jesse Bossenga was happy that his team got to experience a playoff atmosphere with the postseason looming.
“When you get two teams with a lot to play for, neither one wants to back down,” Bossenga said. “That’s what you want to be playing at the end of the year because it’s going to be that same feel come two weeks from now.
“You want to know what that’s like ahead of time.”
West Aurora drew the eighth seed in the Class 4A Glenbard West Sectional. The Blackhawks will face 10th-seeded Batavia at home on Tuesday, Oct. 28. Top-seeded Benet looms for the winner.
That’s a rematch of the season opener for the Blackhawks, one of the matches that Wagner missed after rolling her ankle in practice. Don’t think she doesn’t have it circled on her calendar.
“This is my redemption,” Wagner said. “Everyone is really excited. We’re the underdogs, so we really needed this win. We showed that we can play at a high level.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
Originally Published:
