NORMAL, Illinois — Benet junior Ellie Stiernagle could have viewed the reduced role as a demotion.
Stiernagle was the starting setter last season, when she guided the Redwings to second place in Class 4A. But Benet coach Brad Baker opted to move senior Audrey Asleson from outside hitter back to setter, which she had played on the 2022 second-place team. That relegated Stiernagle to a serving specialist.
Stiernagle took it in stride.
“Every day, I decided to work my hardest to make sure that (the team) was in the best shape possible,” she said. “If that’s how I was going to help, then that’s how it is going to help, so I knew I was going to work my hardest.”
Baker figured as much.
“We’re lucky to have lots of great players,” Baker said. “Ellie’s always ready whenever we need her in any role.
“She’s a great teammate and a great volleyball player.”
Indeed, Stiernagle wasn’t concerned about individual glory. She was focused on helping the Redwings win a state championship.
“I just wanted it for my team really, really badly,” Stiernagle said. “That’s the biggest thing. I just wanted to go out there and play my best for my team.”
Stiernagle did that Saturday night, contributing seven service points, including an ace, and six assists. But Marist rallied to stun the Redwings 19-25, 25-16, 25-19 and win the state title at CEFCU Arena.
The Redwings (40-2) were heavily favored to win with a roster that included 11 Division I commits. But Marist (33-9) rode the play of Stiernagle’s future Northwestern teammate, senior outside hitter Bella Bullington, to victory. Bullington had 16 kills, and junior right-side/outside hitter Savanah Weathers added 10 kills.
More Top Picks Best Long Reach Grabbers For Elderly
Junior outside hitter Brooklynne Brass, a Maryland commit, paced Benet with 12 kills, while junior middle hitter Lynney Tarnow added 10 kills and four blocks.
Tarnow, a Wisconsin commit, had a kill and a block during Stiernagle’s seven-point serving run that gave the Redwings a 17-11 lead in the first set.
“Ellie has always been a great player, and whoever steps on the court, we know they’ll do their job,” Tarnow said. “Ellie always does that for us, so I’m really proud of her.
“Being a serving specialist is a tough job. That’s not something little, so I give her a lot of props for being able to do that so calm. She was able to put her best serves in and really focus in on her one job right there in that moment, without worrying about starting or not starting.”
Stiernagle actually got a second job. With Benet trailing 5-1 in the third set, Baker put Stiernagle in at setter and moved the Colorado-bound Asleson to outside hitter. It was a bid to get more offense, and it worked for a while.
Tarnow spiked three kills and Brass had two to give Benet a 6-5 lead. The score was tied at 11-11 following a block by senior middle Gabby Stasys, a Yale commit. But Marist went on a 9-2 run to take control.
“(Marist) has been playing well for about a month now,” Baker said. “They got hot at the right time. We were hot all season, but they were the better team tonight.”
That couldn’t overshadow Benet’s great season.
“I’m really proud of these girls and proud to be their coach,” Baker said. “I love coaching them.
“I would take this group of girls and how they handle themselves, for their maturity and their level of commitment is unmatched. They’re really nice kids, and they’re better people than they are volleyball players, which is not always the case.”
Five Benet starters will graduate, but Tarnow, Brass and Stiernagle will return, the latter in a much bigger capacity. Stiernagle led the team with 55 aces and was second with 162 assists.
“It’s going to be her show to run next year,” Baker said. “She knows that. It takes a moment to get over this (loss), but hopefully she’s motivated to want to make this get done.”
There’s no doubt about that, although Stiernagle is taking nothing for granted.
“It’s a whole new year,” she said. “We need to have a whole new mindset. It’s going to be our team, and I think we’re ready for that.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.