DeKalb tops IC in straight sets in first game since layoff

SHABBONA - Playing its first game in two weeks, the DeKalb volleyball team shook off the rust and picked up a road win at Indian Creek, 25-20, 25-20.

“Our defense did a phenomenal job and we came out swinging big,” Lambert said. “That was huge. They were hungry for it and ready to be back. They proved it.”

Julia O’Brien led the big-swinging Barbs (4-2) with 11 kills on the night. The defense did a good job keeping Indian Creek hitter Trysta Foster in check, holding her to six kills on the night.

The Barbs led 11-3 in Game 2 after a back-and-forth Game 1, but the Timberwolves (9-3) trimmed the lead to 21-20 on a kill by Foster.

But DeKalb rolled off the next three points, including the last one on a block by O’Brien and Kailey Porter.

“Thankfully we have a really big block,” Lambert said. “Our second middle [Porter] is young but she is all over it. That really set our back row up for success and kind of carry it from there.”

The Barbs were one of three DeKalb teams just coming off a two-week quarantine due to COVID-19 protocols.

“I think we really had to come together and work together to win,” O’Brien said. “It was kinda weird because we were playing back-to-back-to-back. It was kind of weird, but I think time off is good too.”

O’Brien said the Timbewrolves’ defense was good - Foster had 10 digs, Leah McCLue had eight and Audrey Witte eight to go with 10 kills - so she was just trying to find the places IC wasn’t.

“I was just really focused on swinging to open spots,” O’Brien said. “They were doing pretty good picking up balls hit right to them so I was looking for the open spots.”

IC coach Stephanie Crutcher said Witte had her best game of the year.

“She wasn’t intimidated, knowing there was a bigger block in front of her than what we normally see,” Crutcher said. “I told her to go up and keep swimming. And she did.”

The first game was within three points for most of the battle, with DeKalb leading early then falling behind 18-16 on a Witte kill. But the Barbs scored the next four and opened the biggest lead of the game to that point at 23-19.

Crutcher said she hates talking about moral victories, but playing two tight games against the Barbs didn’t leave her upset at a loss as the Timberwolves head back into conference play at Earlville on Tuesday.

“I’ll take a loss like that any day preparing us for our conference teams,” Crutcher said. “I think the games are going to be a little slower in our conference vs. what we just played. It’s hard to take a loss, but I’m happy with that loss.”