Angels' story has a happy ending

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NORMAL – In high school sports, like in real life, sometimes things work out just right.

Not always.

Sometimes.

And one of those sometimes came on match point in Joliet Catholic's heart-stopping 25-20, 25-23 victory over Breese Mater Dei in the 3A state volleyball championship match Saturday night at Redbird Arena.

Alyssa Warren fielded a serve from Mater Dei's Kaley Boeckmann. Warren sent a pass on target to JCA setter Jenn Murphy.

And, just like the play was drawn up on the euphoria of the chant rising from the Hill Zone – ready, set, boom! – Murphy put the ball in the hands of Annemarie Hickey for the final kill shot.

JCA (41-1) had its second straight state championship and reason to pile on top of Hickey in a joyous celebration on the arena floor. In the collective sense, each and every one of the Angels also had reason to let a big sigh of relief.

"In all honesty, anything less than a state championship with this team, this year, would have been a disappointment," JCA coach Christine Scheibe said. "With us winning it last year, with the schedule we have played all season to prepare to get here right now, it just had to be, almost."

From the beginning, these Angels were challenged by the burden that comes from daring to set high goals, talking openly about trying to score a title repeat. "Good is the enemy of great," is the message the girls had drummed into the back of their minds by Scheibe's husband, Bill, whom she calls on to deliver motivational speeches.

The girls decided not to be great, rather, to be exceptional.

During a year when JCA set a school single-season record for victories and came within two points off knocking off national powerhouse Louisville Assumption – of going undefeated, for goodness sakes – the milestones were many. Perhaps most noteworthy, JCA limited 29 opponents to 35 points or less.

The mark speaks of JCA's dominance.

Hickey's 13 kills and 11 digs spoke of her power and determination to help the Angels finish what they started in the right fashion. She brought balls up off the floor the Lady Knights thought were going down and she kept swinging away at the net until she connected that one last time.

She was the leader of a senior class that will depart from JCA with all the right memories. Yes, sometimes things work out.

Not always.

Sometimes.

Hickey is headed to Wisconsin. Few believe she will become a libero in the Big Ten ranks, that she lacks the height to match up with the big girls on the next level. After all, she jumps out of the gym and plays a game much, much bigger than 5-8.

Likewise, Warren is headed to Seton Hall. She is going to play a little offense and a lot of defense for the Pirates in the Big East. Murphy is headed to Evansville and Claire Randich to Butler.

The Angels will lose four Division I recruits and six seniors. Stephanie Keca has plans to become a pharmacist and Katie Schoenstedt is trying to decide between a career in journalism and the challenge of following in her father's law-school footsteps. All six were a part of a magical run. All six shared an experience they will come to treasure as the days, months and years pass by.

"I think the thing for two years now that has made our team different than all the others, as Alyssa (Warren) mentioned, these girls love each other," Scheibe said. "They get along. We have had two years of no drama whatsoever.

"They have come together as a team for two years and made it a point to play as a team and not as individuals. And that's what I'm most proud about with them."

Scheibe convinced the girls to buy into her Ghostbusters theme in a masterful bit of coaching that helped the Angels rid themselves of outside distractions and the "ghosts" of overconfidence and disrespect. Her 10-year record at JCA – 318-70-9 – puts her in an elite class, right there with the likes of St. Francis' Peg Kopec and Breese Mater Dei's Fred Rakers.

Rakers led the Knights (35-7) to the state tournament for the 20th time since 1978. They pushed JCA to the limit in Game 2, twice building five-point leads, despite fielding a lineup that included two sophomores and three juniors, their relative inexperience leading to an inability to crack the Angels and Hickey.

"Yeah, No. 1 just didn't quit wailing away and really bringing on the ball," Rakers said of Hickey. "But, really, in that second game, we brought some of those suckers up, slowed her down a little bit, but certainly not enough, and then they could go with a couple of others."

Mater Dei's Brooke Schulte, a sophomore outside hitter with a big game of her own, pounded 10 kills at JCA. The thing is, it took her 36 attempts to reach that imperfect number.

"Their defense was all over the place," Schulte said. "They played it all the way out. They picked up some amazing balls that we thought were gone."

Gone is the word some will use to describe the impending exodus of talent at JCA.

"It's pretty bittersweet," Randich said. "I love these girls to death. Not only are we really good friends on the court, but off the court we're always together.

"So, yeah, it's bittersweet. When I look back, I know I'm not going to regret anything. I wouldn't trade any experience I had with these girls for anything. I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else but these girls right here."

Gone is not the word those in the know will assign to JCA's volleyball future.

The Angels will replace their six seniors with youngsters who have been pushing them in practice matches, many much more difficult than the real thing. The cast includes Hickey's little sister, Jillian, a sophomore outside hitter and defensive specialist.

"They tell me it's like their state championship match," Annemarie Hickey said. "They come out fired up. And they have been doing really well. I have to give them credit. They really push us hard in practice."

Hickey's reward for battling through those intense practice sessions came in the form of a perfect ending to her high school volleyball career. Sometimes things work out.

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