So far, so good.

Hard-hitting Sidney Hamaker may be the tip of the spear for Oswego, but fellow junior Ava Flanigan has been the glue for the Panthers.

The 5-foot-11 Flanigan is setting Oswego’s 5-1 offense for a second straight season after serving the same role for her Sports Performance 16 Red club team.

“Ava had a great club season and is showing great leadership with a very positive vibe,” first-year Oswego coach Gary Mosley said. “She’s one of our captains, and there’s a reason.

“She leads us on the court. She leads us off the court.”

Hamaker, a 6-1 middle in club who moves to outside hitter for high school, was Flanigan’s favorite target again Tuesday in a 25-15, 25-21 nonconference win at Waubonsie Valley.

A Long Beach State commit, Hamaker had a match-high 12 kills for the Panthers (7-0). Flanigan finished with 17 assists, two digs, one kill and one ace.

“I think my tempo has changed to just faster play,” Flanigan said. “I try to stay consistent.”

Oswego, which went 18-18 last season with many of the same players in key roles, prevailed in all four matches Saturday to win the West Aurora Tournament title.

Hamaker and Flanigan lead a core group of four juniors in a starting lineup featuring 6-0 outside hitter Mia Jurkovic and 5-8 outside hitter/opposite Kelsey Foster. They are joined by two seniors in 6-0 middle Riley Borrowman and 5-4 libero Grace Petasnick.

Overall, it’s still a young group, especially with sophomore Maya Norlin coming off the bench.

“That’s what makes it fun because they’re so eager to learn,” Mosley said. “They’re really passionate. It makes for a fun atmosphere. You don’t have to ask. They work hard.”

Oswego cruised in the first game, opening up a 20-7 lead.

Waubonsie capitalized on unforced errors by the Panthers to keep it close in the second game. Ava Bellafiore had six kills and Naomi Dowd added three to lead the Warriors (2-5).

“Over the weekend, we played really well,” Hamaker said. “(Tuesday night) wasn’t our best. I think the heat in this gym kind of got to us. It’s really hot.

“It kind of got in our heads. We were really quiet.”

With Flanigan at the controls, Jurkovic contributed five kills and nine digs for Oswego. Foster had four kills and five digs and Petasnick picked up 11 digs.

“Ava was already good before she’s progressed from that, building a faster tempo which I think is really good for us scoring-wise,” Hamaker said. “She’s also much more of a leader.

“She was kind of quiet last year but is picking up on that role.”

Flanigan said she strives to make it a balanced attack.

“I am confident in every hitter,” she said. “You have to move the ball around so the other team won’t know what to expect.”

It also helps, according to Hamaker, to have a strong player on the opposite pin.

The Beacon-News

Twice-weekly

News updates from the Aurora area delivered every Monday and Wednesday

“Ava does a good job of distributing it,” Hamaker said. “We have a really good right side in Kelsey. Getting her involved is important along with our middles. It opens everything up.

“And Mia is so good, so consistent. She’s probably the best passer on the team. She’s kind of the backbone.”

Mosley understands wanting to spread the ball around, but he also cautioned against moving away from what’s working.

“Sometimes, I push her to go to (Hamaker),” Mosley said. “When we get into some funks, I almost feel she’s trying too hard. It makes sense (but) sometimes you have to go to your horse.

“I think she’s still trying to figure out that trust and moment — when to do that. But she’s very coachable about it, and that’s what I love.”

Flanigan believes the Panthers are on the right track.

“We were definitely confident coming into the season,” she said. “We expect to go far.”