Benet’s Kirsten Krammer got mad. Then she got even.
The senior right-side hitter wasn’t happy about the Redwings’ performance in the first set against Joliet Catholic on Tuesday.
“I think we were all pretty upset that we lost the first set on senior night,” Krammer said. “We were like, ‘Let’s come back and play our game.’ And that’s what we did.”
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Indeed, the host Redwings were at the top of their game in the final two sets, and Krammer was a big reason for that. Playing in the final home match of her volleyball career, the 5-foot-11 Krammer led all players with 13 kills and eight service points as Benet rallied to win the East Suburban Catholic Conference match 21-25, 25-13, 25-9.
Krammer began the second set by landing three consecutive kills. She later served three straight points as Xavier-bound senior middle Annie Eschenbach scored on two kills and a block to give Benet (30-4, 4-1) a 9-3 cushion against Joliet Catholic (18-17, 2-4).
“We talk about if someone is playing well, let’s keep giving them the ball,” Benet coach Brad Baker said. “(Krammer) was doing that, so we kept giving her the ball.”
Sophomore setter Audrey Asleson did just that. She finished with 37 assists, all but six of which came on kills from Krammer, the 6-4 Eschenbach and 6-3 junior outside Ava Novak.
Novak had 11 kills, and Eschenbach had nine kills and five blocks, often working in tandem with Krammer, who gives the Redwings great balance.
“She’s definitely one of our most consistent hitters,” Eschenbach said. “We know whenever we’re in a pickle, we can set her the ball, and she’s really good at working the shots and hitting through seams and seeing an opening in the block. That’s definitely her strong suit.”
Right-side hitters tend not to get noticed as much as outside hitters or even middles like the powerful Eschenbach. But Krammer has embraced the position.
“I’m really comfortable there, and I like it a lot,” Krammer said. “It’s what I played last year and what I played in club.”
Krammer, who will not play college volleyball, experienced her final match on Benet’s court. That fueled her fire just as much as losing the first set.
“I just wanted to have a good game in my last game at Benet,” Krammer said.
So did Eschenbach, who turned in one of her most dominant efforts of the season. She had six kills and four blocks in the final two sets.
“In practice I’ve been making sure I get extra reps in with the setters to get more comfortable with Audrey,” Eschenbach said. “Our practices are one of the best practices in the state because when we scrimmage, it’s really good volleyball on both sides. So I’ve been giving it my all in scrimmages.”
Baker has noticed.
“She’s been blocking really well, and offensively she’s been coming around,” Baker said. “I thought in the second and third games she played very well.
“She just makes really good reads. She’s been around the game a long time, and she understands situations, and she has a good feel for the game.”
Krammer and Eschenbach were dominant in the third set, combining for six kills and three blocks. Krammer delivered the clinching kill.
“It was great,” Krammer said. “I just wanted to end it on a good note. We always want to win, but this one kind of hit home a bit more. It’s our last home game, our last senior night, and I played my best game.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.