Joliet West has gotten off to a strong start this year overall, as well as in its new conference.
However, it was a recent loss to Plainfield North, which dropped the Tigers to 12-4 overall, 4-2 in the Southwest Prairie Conference, that upset coach Al Mart.
“I don’t know how many unforced errors we had, but too many to be competitive with a really good team,” Mart said. “Plainfield played well to force us into errors, but we need to be better and we are better. Normally we are a very good serving team and a very good defensive team and I thought neither took place today.”
Despite the loss, Mart is pleased with the season overall.
“The season has been good,” Mart said. “We have played well. I’m just disappointed in the effort we gave today.”
With the team not boasting a bunch of size or powerful hitters, it has been a combined group effort and hard work that has gotten the Tigers off to the strong start.
“Hard work has been the key,” Mart said. “We’re not a big team. We’re not as athletic. When you look at us against some of these other teams you might as how we are winning. We have to outwork and out-serve other teams. We have to play hard on defense. When you don’t, this is what happens.”
Emma Baxter and West are enjoying the move to the SPC.
While it has been a balanced effort this year, there have been some players who have stood out so far this year.
“Jenny Koerner has been our top hitter. Emma Baxter has done a good job at the libero spot. Lauren Widlowski has done a nice job all around and our setters have been ok. We have served the ball well and have a lot of aces.”
Moving forward, Mart hopes West does not have another game like it had against North.
“I want to see us come ready to play and do what we need to do to be successful,” Mart said. “Like I said, we are successful when we play hard and do the little things and force the other teams to make mistakes.”
As far as the transition to the SPC goes, the Tigers appear to be very competitive with their start, beating Plainfield East and South and Romeoville already this year.
“The transition has been okay,” Mart said. “The only team that has taken it to us is Minooka. We played them well the second game. We’re competitive in this conference. From top to bottom in this conference there is no weak team that you can relax against and come out and expect to win. Everyone is pretty solid in this conference, so when you don’t come out to play, you can expect to lose.”