Something changes for West Aurora when senior middle hitter Janiyah Ricks gets on a roll.

Not only does incorporating Ricks keep the opposing team honest while Natalie Mitchell and Sydney Wagner are hitting on the outside, there’s an intangible effect she has on the team as well.

“When she gets a big kill or a big block, you can just see all the girls huddle around her,” West coach Alyssa Farney said. “It completely changes the pace and morale on the court, for sure.

“It’s so fun to watch her play. It puts a smile on everybody’s face.”

Ricks kept her teammates smiling Tuesday night, coming up with two big kills and block late in the third game to help the host Blackhawks pull away for a 22-25, 25-23, 25-14 victory over Batavia in a Class 4A West Aurora Regional semifinal.

Ricks finished with six kills and three blocks for West Aurora (21-12), which plays top-seeded Benet (34-2) at 6 p.m. Thursday for the regional title. Wagner led both teams with 12 kills, while Mitchell added 10 and Ellie Dobbertin had six.

West Aurora’s Janiyah Ricks (12) celebrates after the Blackhawks beat Batavia in a Class 4A West Aurora Regional semifinal match in Aurora on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)

Morgan Raiser paced Batavia (17-18) with seven kills. Olivia DiBiase tallied four kills and three blocks, while Penny Shultz picked up five kills.

Ricks, meanwhile, can feel it when her teammates rally around her. It also gets the crowd going and totally changes the vibe on West Aurora’s side of the net.

“It just makes me so happy knowing everyone is there for me,” Ricks said. “I think I know a lot of times I struggle in games and I feel like I was really there mentally.

“I was just happy to be there for my teammates and build our morale.”

West Aurora’s Janiyah Ricks (12) and Natalie Mitchell (8) put up the block against Batavia during a Class 4A West Aurora Regional semifinal match in Aurora on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)

Ricks entered the postseason fourth on the team in kills, although she led the Blackhawks in blocks. Ricks became a central part of Tuesday’s winning rally, however.

“She had some big moments,” Farney said of Ricks. “It’s awesome. I know she has it in her, so it’s nice to see her put it together.”

Neither team had a big lead in the first two games or early in the third.

Suddenly, West Aurora started putting it together, with Ricks in the middle of it — literally and figuratively. The Blackhawks led 17-12 when Ricks put down consecutive kills, forcing a timeout.

West Aurora’s Janiyah Ricks (12) celebrates a point against Batavia during a Class 4A West Aurora Regional semifinal match in Aurora on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)

Her block after Batavia’s timeout made it 22-12, with West Aurora cruising from there.

“Our passing was a lot better,” Farney said. “We were able to incorporate our middles, which helps.”

Ricks does all of this despite being only 5-foot-9. She knows other teams see her across the net and don’t expect much.

“People do look at me and think I’m not going to do anything because I’m shorter,” Ricks said. “I just play my hardest all the time”

Farney understands better than most not to underestimate Ricks.

“She gets up there,” Farney said. “Sometimes, even with hitting, she comes out of nowhere and I’m like, ‘Dang. She’s on.’ She’s going to kill it, which is awesome to see.”

West Aurora’s Janiyah Ricks (12) blocks a shot by Batavia’s Penny Schultz (14) during a Class 4A West Aurora Regional semifinal match in Aurora on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)

Batavia let things slip away late, but it doesn’t take away from a successful season. The Bulldogs won their most matches in seven seasons.

“I think it was our youth,” Batavia coach Tom Barry said. “It tends to show in high-pressure matches like this. We’ve got a lot to build on and we’re going to keep going.”

The Blackhawks, though, were able to celebrate a playoff win on their home court. Now, one of the best teams in the state awaits. That challenge is appealing, but the celebration was still on.

“I think we all just want to cry out of happiness,” Ricks said. “It was just so exciting because we lost to Batavia at the beginning of the year. It was amazing.

“We’re really excited to play Benet.”

Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/28/janiyah-ricks-west-aurora-batavia-ihsa-girls-volleyball/