The perfect 9-0 start by Downers Grove South’s girls volleyball team was marred by two longtime rivals from Naperville, but the Mustangs bounced back from the fourth-place finish at the Wheaton Tournament with confidence intact.

That showed in a 25-13, 25-8 sweep Tuesday at Addison Trail in which Downers South (10-2) erupted to a 14-2 lead in the second game and closed the match with a similar 9-1 run.
Courtney Gosewisch (four service aces, six digs, three kills) served six points in a row to help the Mustangs to a 7-0 Game 2 lead, and made a diving fingertip dig to keep the ball alive for point seven.

The lead grew to 14-2 during a run of three serves and two kills by Mo Oestermeyer (six kills, eight assists overall), and Colleen Dobry (13 assists) later served five straight points (starting with two consecutive aces) to make the lead 24-7.

Kelsey Safranek (seven kills), Jessica McNellis (five kills, including the putaway to end Game 1) and Christine Bowe (nine digs) also excelled as the Mustangs rebounded from losses to Naperville North and Naperville Central to end the Wheaton tournament three days earlier.

“I think we were frustrated and certainly didn’t finish (the tournament) the way we wanted to finish,” Downers South coach Colleen Reagan said.

“We actually went back to the drawing board and have a little different lineup now. I believe we have the pieces to the puzzle to be one of the top teams in the area, and I just don’t think we had it put together the right way. We’re frustrated but also very motivated.”