Payton's versatile Schultz dominates sectional

Michelle Schultz wore a smile a mile deep.

"The last time we got to a supersectional, we went downstate," she said. The all-purpose Payton junior showcased her versatility and talent in leading the Grizzlies to an impressive 25-14, 25-17 victory over Jones for the Class 3A Sectional title at King Thursday night.

Schultz made the switch from her normal outside hitter position to setter to accommodate the absence of the team's normal setter, senior Roxanne Rivera, who missed the match because of illness.

Schultz and the rest of the Grizzlies did not miss a beat. Schultz registered four kills, three aces and 20 assists to power the Grizzlies' attack.

Payton advances to the T.F. North Supersectional Saturday against Oak Forest, which beat Illiana Christian at its own sectional.

With Rivera out and star middle hitter Marie Faines seeing limited play because of a minor knee injury, Payton revealed its depth and overall talent. Juniors Kaimara Herron and Theodora Peric added four kills apiece for the Grizzlies (31-8).

Two years ago, Faines and Schultz played important though secondary roles to Courtney Cunningham and Elyse Rodriguez on the Grizzlies' fourth-place state trophy winner. "That was a great team, but we relied a lot on Courtney," Faines said. "Now, this team has more depth and is more cohesive and we have more players capable of playing at a higher level, which you saw."

Faines said her injury is not serious and she expects to be at full strength Saturday.

Payton was never seriously threatened in the first game, jumping out to a 20-10 lead. The second game was tighter. It featured 11 ties and seven lead changes. With the game tied at 11, Peric registered three successive kills that keyed a 9-1 Payton run that sealed the match.

Jones star senior hitter Tyler Jones, a UIC recruit who plays on the same club team with many of the Payton players, ended her career with nine kills for the Eagles (27-9).

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