When Ellie White decides to take over a match for Mother McAuley, she isn’t quiet about it.
With Tuesday night’s second game against Sandburg tied 22-22, the junior outside hitter called for the ball from the back row.
“When we’re in that situation late, whether we’re down or it’s point for point, I know I have to step up and be a leader,” White said. “I call it as loud as I can, and I hope to get it.”
Senior setter Tess Hayes obliged. And White delivered.
The Michigan recruit did a whole lot more before all was said and done for a 25-17, 27-25 nonconference victory.
White finished with 11 kills and eight digs for the Mighty Macs (8-0). Hayes had 11 assists and 10 digs, while Samantha Falk contributed 10 digs and Gigi Navarrete added seven.
Madi Mulhausen led Sandburg (4-3) with seven kills. Keira Fitzgerald dished out 12 assists, while Reilly Chausse made 16 digs.
The 5-foot-11 White had quite a finish after her kill from the back row gave McAuley the 23-22 lead.
Twice, she put down kills to get the Mighty Macs within match point, only to have Sandburg come back.
Facing a 25-25 tie, White made a spectacular defensive save, and on the same rally, slammed down another kill. Mary Kate Sheehan ended the match with a spike to the floor.
“Getting that first kill definitely energized me,” White said. “And then going into the front row, it made me feel more confident. Our team also got energetic after that and our chemistry started flowing.
“Sandburg had great defense. Especially when they got a great ball up, it was definitely frustrating. But it pushed me harder to get that next kill and pushed us all to get that next point.”
It wasn’t the first time Hayes obliged when White made the call from the back row.
It won’t be the last.
“Ellie is someone you can count on in any situation,” Hayes said. “Even if she’s been a little bit off during a match, she’ll still find a way to put the ball down.”
For the season, White has a team-leading 70 kills.
“She’s competitive,” Might Macs coach Jen DeJarld said. “She wants to end the play. That is always her goal. I think she’s become a lot better this season about calling the ball on the pipe in the back row.
“She is so dominant hitting from the back row. We like to see her do it as often as possible. Honestly, when push comes to shove, the ball is going to go to Ellie. She is our go-to player, and has been since she was a freshman.”
Chausse did her share of frustrating White with standout defense. The 5-5 junior libero probably came away with the most floor burns.
But White kept swinging.
“Oh, my gosh,” Chausse said, laughing. “I see Ellie White in club all the time. She’s just amazing. She has worked so hard and she’s just unbelievable.
“I’m so proud of her for her commit (to Michigan), too. It’s just so good for her.”
Sandburg led 12-9 in Game 2 and rallied from a 20-16 deficit to force extra points.
Mulhausen, a junior outside, paced the hitting parade for the Eagles, while senior Maddie Duckhorn was close behind with four kills.
But it was Chausse who left it all on the floor — literally.
“This was a great experience for all of us,” Chausse said. “It’s going to help us a lot to get ready for the rest of the season. For my teammates, we were all-in for it. We were all going for the ball.”