Junior defensive specialist Sam Falk is always eager to put on her Mother McAuley uniform.
However, there were a couple of extra perks Tuesday night when the Mighty Macs played host to De La Salle in a much-anticipated GCAC Red match in Chicago.
“It was special because I played against a lot of them in grammar school,” she said. “And then my cousin being one of them … it was pretty nostalgic.”
Sam Falk was her usual energetic self as the Mighty Macs swept the Meteors 25-10, 25-12.
Michigan recruit Ellie White had eight kills and six digs for McAuley (26-2, 5-0). Ellery Rees added four kills and four blocks, while Northwestern commit Gigi Navarrete had 14 digs.
Tess Hayes tallied 16 assists and Falk added 10 digs. Meanwhile, Jennifer Falk — Sam’s cousin — and Marina Hosticka each had three kills for De La Salle (24-7, 2-4).
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The Falk cousins grew up near each other in the Canaryville neighborhood.
“We always did our own thing,” Jennifer Falk said. “We were never like, ‘Oh, I’ll do it because you’re doing it.’ I felt more comfortable after I shadowed at De La Salle, so it was a no-brainer for me.”
Jennifer also is thriving as a Meteor. She has a team-leading 284 kills this season, along with 108 digs, and has been named all-tournament three different times.
Sam Falk is McAuley’s second-leading defensive player behind Navarrete. She now has 209 digs. She’s third in good serve receives and among the team leaders in service points.
Falk took her decision to attend McAuley down to the final days.
“It was right before the testing day,” Falk said. “It was either go right or left on the expressway. I chose right.”
McAuley coach Jen DeJarld, who knew them both well, got the “quiet” cousin.
“Jennifer was outgoing with a big personality,” DeJarld said. “Sam was very coy and smiled all the time, so we didn’t know Sam as well, just because of their personalities.
“But the more we watched Sam, the more we were like, ‘Wow, this kid is really solid.’ She’s still a quiet kid, but she has a wonderful personality. There are Sam Falk fan clubs here. They come to the matches and cheer for her. She is beloved at our school.”
Sam Falk also is the heir apparent to Navarrete as the starting libero for McAuley.
“I’m just grateful every day because she inspires me,” Falk said of Navarrete. “You see her making those crazy digs, committed to Northwestern, I just look up to her. And she’s always there for me.”
Navarrete loves Falk’s work ethic.
“Sam’s just really a feisty girl,” Navarrete said. “When you see her, you know she has that fire inside of her. She’s one of the quiet ones on the court, but she brings a presence. I’m right next to her and she really helps me.
“She does her job, listens to what the coach has to say and gives good feedback. She just wants to get better every time she touches the ball.”
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A cousin’s perspective?
“It’s insane,” Jennifer Falk said, laughing. “Sam knows where the ball is going to go before it even goes over the net. And if there’s a ball about to hit the floor, she’s coming out of nowhere to get it up.
Before the match, White was presented with balloons and flowers to celebrate her 1,000th career kill, which came during the Asics Challenge.
“It is truly an incredible experience,” White said. “But I honestly couldn’t have done it without any of my teammates and coaches.
“Just the techniques we’ve learned and all we’ve done over the past three years has definitely helped me to get where I am today.”