Front row. Back row. Service line. Senior outside hitter Ryanne Jasica was delivering point after point from every spot on the court for St. Laurence early in Wednesday’s match.
Then came a cold spell, with the sectional title seemingly slipping away.
In the past, Jasica may have been defeated. In the latter stages of her final varsity season, however, she has developed the mental strength to bounce back.
“I’ve learned that I have to get out of my head sooner,” Jasica said. “I learned that not every single ball has to be a kill. My coach (Ellen Yopchick) and my teammates have definitely helped me realize that and grow as a player and a person.”
Jasica was that player and person, coming through with four big kills late to help the second-seeded Vikings pull out a 25-19, 24-26, 25-23 win over top-seeded De La Salle in the Class 3A St. Laurence Sectional championship match.
“I feel like we’ve accomplished so much this season and this was such a big win for us,” Jasica said. “I feel like I’ll leave my high school volleyball career on a good end, even if we don’t win state, which I’m hoping to do, obviously.
“I’m ending it with this team, and that’s all I can really ask for.”
Jasica finished with 19 kills and seven digs for St. Laurence (27-9). Kayla Birmingham had nine kills, 15 digs and three aces, while CJ Blum dished out 32 assists and added eight digs. Natalie Martinez had 10 digs and five aces.
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The Vikings, who won the program’s second sectional championship and first since 2018, will take on Joliet Catholic (22-17) at 6 p.m. Friday in the Hinsdale South Supersectional in Darien.
Jennifer Falk had 13 kills and Haley Chavez added 12 for De La Salle (29-9), which eliminated St. Laurence in the sectional final last season and beat the Vikings in three games earlier this year.
“It’s amazing,” Birmingham said. “Last year, we lost to them at their home court. This year, we were on our home court, and the fact that we won sectionals here in such a close game, it means so much to us.”
Jasica had 14 kills by the midway point of the second game as the Vikings rolled in the opener and led 9-3 early in the second.
But her next kill did not come until the third game. She made a few mistakes and De La Salle rallied.
“Ryanne has been here before,” Yopchick said. “She’s a four-year varsity starter and she’s been in these moments. We’ve rode the roller coaster with her before, but she’s really shown some growth and maturity, especially in these last 10 matches.
“She’s able to make an error and bounce back and find a way. I’m really proud of her.”
The Meteors led 18-14 in the third game before Jasica reeled off four kills to help the Vikings pull even at 20-20.
The teams traded points, with Birmingham delivering a big kill to force a 23-23 tie before a pair of De La Salle errors ended it.
“It was definitely my team and my coach encouraging me,” Jasica said. “They’re my biggest supporters. I’m doing it for them, so if I make a mistake, I have to shake it off so we can get the win — for them, not just for me.”
Some of Jasica’s kills early in the match had her teammates shaking their heads, with their jaws dropping in apparent disbelief.
But Birmingham said it’s nothing new.
“That’s just Ryanne,” Birmingham said. “Ryanne always hits amazing. But she shows out in these matches where we really need her. We really needed her (Wednesday), and she did exactly what we needed her to do.
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Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.