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Mother McAuley stays up, takes Lyons down
Updated: September 24, 2011 8:51PM
The most important thing Mother McAuley had to remember to take into Saturday’s Rich East Volleyball Tournament championship match against Lyons Township was its adrenaline.
But how can you keep your edge after just beating your biggest rival, as the Mighty Macs did in the semifinals against Marist?
“We went and had some lunch,” senior Lizzy Scanlon said. “We went out and figured out a game plan, and we refocused.”
After a 25-19, 25-21 victory, all that remained was figuring out celebration plans.
Scanlon finished with five kills and 13 digs, Courtney Joyce 18 assists and five blocks, Gabrielle Ennis five kills and four blocks, Bridget Powell 15 digs and Lauren Grady four blocks and two kills as No. 3 McAuley (11-2) won the tourney for the first time since 2008.
Lyons Township (15-5) was paced by Alexis Viliunas (7 kills, 11 assists), Catherine King (4 kills) and Megan Miller (12 digs).
Following their lunch break, the Mighty Macs came out swinging against the Lions, as well as blocking. The 5-foot-11 Ennis was a power at the net with back-to-back blocks, while Grady and Joyce had kills during a 7-1 start.
They would lead by as much as 17-9, before Lyons began chipping away behind Viliunas. The Lions got within 20-18 before a critical serving error was magnified when Sydney McPhillips cracked down a kill and Grady combined with Joyce for a block for McAuley.
In Game 2, Lyons led at several points. Ennis broke the final tie at 15-15 with a kill on a quick set from Joyce, after which Annie Myren landed an ace.
Up 23-21, Ennis and Scanlon went back-to-back with kills to close the match out.
Earlier, the Mighty Macs gained some revenge against Marist in a 25-17, 29-27 victory.
In that one, Ennis had six kills and four blocks, McPhillips and Scanlon five kills each, Powell 13 digs and Jackie Aird 10 digs.
Kelly Marcinek and Mallory Salis had six kills each, and Ashley Holder 17 assists for Marist.
“It felt really good to get back at them,” a smiling Grady said, referring to a two-game loss to the RedHawks on Sept. 13. “We felt it was our turn. We were so ready to put the ball down every time and keep the momentum on our side. And that’s what we did.”
No. 2 Marist made its mark in Game 2 by rallying from a 20-14 deficit and forcing overtime. The RedHawks led 26-25, but the Mighty Macs would not be denied.
Marist (16-2) went on to capture third place in the tournament with a 25-21, 25-18 victory over No. 4 Providence (17-5).
No. 1 Sandburg (14-3), which lost to Providence on Friday, captured first place in the ‘B’ division via a 25-22, 29-27 victory over No. 5 Lincoln-Way East (13-2).
Lockport (11-6) won the ‘C’ division crown, beating No. 6 Chicago Christian (12-12) by a 25-16, 25-15 margin.
Andrew (11-7) was the winner in the ‘D’ division, beating Queen of Peace 25-13, 25-22.
No. 8 Lincoln-Way Central (11-6) went 2-3 for the tournament.
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