Ava Novak and Sam Buckley live in different towns and attended different schools growing up, but the cousins both wanted the same thing.
One day, they thought, they would play volleyball at Benet.
“It’s been a childhood dream for us,” Novak said. “We’d be in the backyard playing a family game of volleyball and now we’re on varsity. It’s so much fun.”
Novak, a 6-foot-3 sophomore outside hitter from Oswego, and Buckley, a 5-10 senior setter from Naperville, had never attended the same school together until last year.
Both were on varsity during last spring’s truncated season, but Novak hardly played because of a shoulder injury and Buckley started at right-side hitter.
Now, Buckley has taken over the setting duties from Rachel Muisenga, a freshman at Penn State, and Novak has been Benet’s biggest offensive weapon.
Novak led all players Monday with 10 kills and Buckley added 19 assists to lead the Redwings to a 25-20, 25-13 nonconference victory over Providence. It was the first time they had started together on Benet’s home court.
“I used to come to Benet volleyball games when I was in seventh and eighth grade,” Novak said. “I was really looking forward to playing on varsity, and now that I get the opportunity, it’s so much fun.
“Having my cousin set me is such a fun experience. I’m so lucky to be in this position.”
Buckley feels lucky to have a trusted partner. The Redwings (5-1) have a brand-new starting lineup, and Benet coach Brad Baker has used his entire roster as he tries to figure things out.
“Honestly, it’s really comforting because me and Ava are like best friends,” Buckley said. “She’s always been there for me, and on the court it’s the same thing. She always has my back, so it’s a very positive influence.”
The Redwings have plenty of other talented hitters. Caelin Abramic, a 6-0 senior outside, had seven kills against the Celtics and 6-4 junior middle Annie Eschenbach added four kills.
But when Providence (3-4) took a 9-8 lead in Game 1, Buckley went to Novak for a kill, sparking a 7-0 run.
Novak had a similar impact in Game 2, hammering four straight kills during a 14-4 spurt which opened up a 20-10 lead.
“I thought Ava played phenomenal (Monday),” Buckley said. “She hit around every block and she was smart, so it was a great performance.”
Baker expects more such performances from Novak.
“For us to be successful, she has to be a big part of it,” Baker said. “From her improvement from last year to this year, I can tell she’s been working hard and been in the gym.
“She’s a hardworking kid. When you have a kid who’s athletic and then willing to work hard, she’s got a bright future.”
The present is pretty good, too. This will be Buckley’s only season setting Novak, so she’s relishing every minute.
“I love setting Ava because it’s so easy,” Buckley said. “I could give her any ball and she would do anything with it, so it’s awesome.”
Athleticism and height run in Novak’s family.
Her mother, Beth, played volleyball in college at Illinois Tech, and Ava’s older brothers Jared and Josh are baseball pitchers. The 6-5 Jared is a sophomore at Bradley and the 6-3 Josh is a senior at Benet.
Yet they couldn’t help Novak on the court Monday. That was Buckley’s job.
“I’m super stoked,” Novak said. “I’m so glad my cousin was setting me because it made everything much more comfortable,
“As a sophomore, it can be kind of nerve-wracking, and having my cousin on the court with me makes me feel at home.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
