Joliet Catholic tops St. Francis in 1 vs. 2

Joliet Catholic's Claire Randich (3), Jeannette Paige (6) and Kate Brown (13) scream after defeating St. Francis.
(John Patsch/Herald-News)

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The only thing that can stop Joliet Catholic from winning its second consecutive Class 3A title now is a flat tire on the team bus or the flu.

Annemarie Hickey had 19 kills, Lainey Wyman added nine kills and four blocks and No.1-ranked Joliet Catholic fought off match point down 24-23 in Game 2 to defeat No. 2-ranked St. Francis 20-25, 26-24, 25-22 in an IHSA Class 3A sectional final in Wheaton.

The “unofficial” state championship match between arguably the best two teams in the state was played in front of a frenzied standing-room only crowd.

“It had the feel of a state championship match,” said Wyman, whose kill brought the Angels even in Game 2 at 23-23. “It definitely felt like the two best teams in the state. Just look at the people here.”

The crowd saw St. Francis take a 21-19 lead in Game 2 on a Cassie Rio kill down the line. A kill by Meg Vonderhaar gave the Spartans a 24-23 lead, but Joliet Catholic (38-1) scored the final three points on kills by Alyssa Warren and Hickey sandwiched around a block by Wyman.

In Game 3, St. Francis (35-3) rallied from down 19-15 to pull within 22-21 on a pair of Cassie Rio kills and a Joliet Catholic error. But a St. Francis error and a kill by Hickey gave the Angels match point.

A service error by the Angels gave the Spartans a brief reprieve, but St. Francis served long on match point.

“We were a little tentative in the first game and we weren’t playing with as much energy as we could have,” Hickey said. “During timeouts, my little sister (sophomore Jill) kept telling me, ‘Go out there and play the way you know how.’”

Jennifer Murphy added 39 assists and Warren added eight kills for Joliet Catholic. Vonderhaar led St. Francis with 13 kills and Rio added eight.

“It’s a great year to be in 4A,” St. Francis coach Peg Kopec said. “We had an opportunity to win and we didn’t. Rio and Vonderhaar were outstanding. It was an excellent game for people to watch.”