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player ready...It’s hard to believe a 24-15 record would qualify as the worst in school history, but that doesn’t matter at this point to Mother McAuley.
Before this season, the 1992 team dropped eight matches, then a school mark, but ended up winning the state title. This year’s team moved one step closer to that same finish.
The Mighty Macs knocked off Marian Catholic 12-15, 15-12, 15-3 at the T.F. North sectional, avening two losses to the Spartans earlier this year.
Megan Knightly, called up from the JV team only a month ago, led the way with 17 kills, nine of them in the third game, and 16 digs. Megan Griffin and Kristyn Corley each had 10 kills and five blocks and Nicole Blazina added 51 assists for the Mighty Macs.
“We didn’t talk about the earlier losses because this is a completely different team” Mother McAuley head coach Nancy Pedersen said. “Before, we weren’t playing with confidence. Now we’re starting to believe in ourselves, and it’s beginning to show on the court.”
Lisa Lutkus had 18 kills for Marian Catholic, which finished 34-4.
Evanston: Anny Price had 11 kills and seven blocks and Kara Baysinger added nine kills to help Hersey upend New Trier 11-15, 16-14, 15-7. Jessica Brizzolara chipped in 26 assists for the Huskies (34-3-1), who rallied after losing the opener. Alexis Geocaris had nine kills for the Trevians (23-10).
Glenbard East: Michelle Chatman’s 10 kills and four blocks paced Downers Grove South (32-5) in its 15-7, 15-8 victory over Naperville North (38-1). Teammates Katie Smith and Lindsey Filkins each added eight kills for Downers South. Rachal Karos had nine kills to lead Naperville North.
Lake Park: St. Charles (37-2) repeated as sectional champ with a 15-6, 15-6 sweep of Larkin (25-10-1). Ashley White had nine kills and Caroline Frede added 29 assists for the Saints. Julie Malm had seven kills in defeat.
Oswego: Minooka (34-5) eliminated Joliet 15-5, 15-12 for its first volleyball sectional championship. Ryane Beasley’s nine kills and seven blocks and Cyndi Norman’s 17 assists carried Minooka. Joliet finished 23-14.
“Basically we knew we had to block them,” Minooka coach Johnna Franklin. “We saw where their hitters’ tendencies were so we played our defense accordingly. We wanted to serve aggressively and we tried to take their passing out.”
Karime Wohlrab had six kills for Joliet.
Stagg: After dropping the opener, Lockport (26-13) rallied to defeat Stagg 12-15, 15-16, 15-5. Staci Boyce had 12 kills, Janet Cotter had 11 kills and Dawn Strahanoski added 24 assists for Lockport. April Puzauskas had 11 kills for Stagg, which finished 22-16.
Warren: Heather Hynds had 16 kills and Anne T’Niemi added 29 assists to lead Mundelein (32-3) to a 4-15, 15-5, 15-11 victory over Barrington (29-10) and the first supersectional appearance for coach Dan Szymkowiak in his 12 years at Mundelein. Diana Steplyk had seven kills for Libertyville (29-10).
Class A
Illiana Christian: Lisa Huizenga had eight kills and five blocks as Illiana Christian (24-12) defeated Manteno 15-7, 15-2.
Immaculate Conception: St. Francis (36-3) won its ninth consecutive sectional title with a 15-4, 15-0 defeat of Timothy Christian (23-14). Marian Weidner had 10 kills and three blocks and Gemma Greer added 11 assists and three kills to help the Spartans jump out to a 13-0 lead in the first game.
Kaneland: Marian Hansen had 20 kills and 15 digs and Erin Borhart added 18 assists and five aces to help Huntley (33-6) down St. Edward 15-12, 14-16, 15-3. Kelli Hopkins had seven kills and six aces for St. Edward (36-3).