Maureen Pokryfke can do it all, and then some, on a volleyball court for West Aurora.

Hard hitter? You bet.

The sound does not lie. The smack of her hand on ball when the junior outside hitter connects is reminiscent of the crack of the bat when a power hitter connects in baseball.

She may be a bit undersized for the position at 5-foot-8 but plays much taller. A three-year varsity regular and six-rotation star, Pokryfke is equally talented in the front row and back.

“She’s one of our top diggers and, obviously, our top attacker,” West Aurora coach Brandon Vicory said of Pokryfke. “And she’s a great server and serve receive.

“We can see that her skill is phenomenal.”

That was evident Tuesday night as Pokryfke picked up 16 kills to lead the host Blackhawks to a 25-21, 19-25, 25-18 Southwest Prairie Conference victory over Oswego East.

Junior middle hitter Taylor Baratta contributed eight kills and three blocks for West Aurora (11-13, 2-4), while freshman outside hitter Natalie Mitchell added five kills and two blocks and sophomore right-side hitter Sydney Wagner tallied four kills and two blocks.

Sophomore outside hitter Mia Stanley had four of her team-high eight kills and two aces to lead the rally in the second game for the young Wolves (4-17, 2-4).

“What people don’t see is the intangibles and her leadership,” Vicory said, continuing his assessment of Pokryfke. “In practice, she is the hardest worker. She really comes in ready to work hard, and she is the definition of a great leader.”

She can play psychologist, too.

“I think it’s almost like we get a little ahead of ourselves, and sometimes, since we are a young team, we have trouble controlling our emotions,” Pokryfke said. “We get in our heads a lot. That’s been a team focus — not letting it get to you too much, having more fun and being more vocal with each other.

“It’s always the second set we seem to drop our energy level a little bit. It’s something we have to work on.”

And very likely something they’ll need to overcome to win that season-long battle with staying at .500 or better.

Pokryfke entered the match with a team-high 194 kills, followed by the 6-0 Baratta at second with 73.

“We do run a lot of our offense through ‘Mo,’” Vicory said. “But when I need Taylor to get a kill, she gets one for me.

“On top of it, she is the energy she brings to the court. She is the first one hyping everyone else up.”

Baratta likes to bring that energy.

“I love this team,” she said. “Lately, we’ve struggled getting through the second set. But I know, even if we have a drop, we can push back. We know we can. It just takes an ‘oomph’ sometimes.”

Pokryfke also embraces being a leader.

“I love having this role, being someone that people look up to,” Pokryfke said. “I love being able to help people that are coming into their own and lift their energy.

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“My freshman year we had a great leader in our setter. I loved that she showed me what it means to be motivated on the court and also nurture certain players.”

Pokryfke, who wants to play at the next level, has been in touch with several NCAA Division II and a few Division I schools.

She faces a big offseason in club with Fusion once the high school season is done.

“I’m trying to get that vertical as high as I can,” Pokryfke said.

Vicory thinks it’s a no-brainer.

“If she were two inches taller, she’d be Division I without a doubt,” he said.

She still could be.