Shepard's Werniak delivers

To say that Shepard senior middle hitter Amanda Werniak had a good week wouldn't be doing last week justice.

In six matches, she had 71 kills, 24 service points and four aces. Defensively, she was 58-1 in serve receive, and 47-6 in defensive digs. She had 25 blocks.

"I just want to do well," Werniak said. "This is my last year, and I feel responsible for how we play. So I just try to do my best."

The Astros entered the week with a 6-2 record. Among their six wins was a 25-18, 25-14 decision over one of the area's hottest teams, Chicago Christian.

"We'd never beaten them before, so it was really exciting," said Werniak, who had 12 kills. "We played better than we have all year, so I thought we deserved to win that game."

Shepard went into the Bartlett tournament with a 4-0 record. The Astros lost to Elgin Larkin, but won their way into the title match, which went to Bartlett 25-12.

"It was tough. Bartlett was better than us, but that's OK," Werniak said. "We played them really well, and scored more points on them than any other team. So I was proud of us."

Learning from losing

A measuring stick can really help you, even if it hurts a little when you get whacked with it.

That's pretty much how Oak Lawn coach Dennis McNamara feels about his Spartans' annual meetings with Mother McAuley on the volleyball court.

The latest exercise, on Sept. 11, saw Mother McAuley prevail 25-12, 25-16 in a match that McNamara found easier to watch than the final score might indicate.

"We actually played pretty well, I thought," McNamara said. "We gave a real good effort, but their talent was better than our effort.

"All you can do is bring that fight, and use it as a measuring stick. I always tell the girls, 'By the end of the season a lot of teams change. Some people take steps forward and some people take steps backward.' "

The Spartans went into the week at 2-2, with victories over Mount Assisi and Rich East. Their other loss was to Chicago Christian.

Kelly Knudsen has led the way for Oak Lawn. The 6-foot senior outside hitter had 159 kills and 46 aces last season. She had four kills and two blocks in the match against McAuley.

"She started at middle hitter last year but halfway through I switched her to the outside," McNamara said. "She plays all the way around. She's a power player, and a real good passer out of the back row."

Better than ever

It was a year ago this weekend when Mother McAuley's junior varsity squad shocked a field of varsity teams to win the annual Nike Preview.

Moments after the medal ceremony, Mighty Macs coach Jen DeJarld summoned sophomores Jess Galotta and Jess Falk into the athletic director's office to ask if they'd be willing to move up to the varsity to help shore up a struggling offense.

They did, and Mother McAuley's season did a dramatic turnaround. With both making major contributions, the Mighty Macs went on to finish 35-8 and finish second in Class 4A.

A year later, Galotta is one of the leaders on a McAuley team that is expected to once again challenge for a state title.

"She's doing great," DeJarld said. "She's our starting middle, and been getting stronger and stronger."

"She's just so quick. She plays with a lot of heart. She wants the ball all the time and plays with a sense of urgency."

In a 25-15, 25-17 win over Mount Assisi on Sept. 9, Galotta had eight kills in 10 attempts.

Falk, meanwhile, is continuing to rehab a left ankle she originally injured during club season, and aggravated in preseason practice.

"Oct. 10 is what (doctors) are saying," DeJarld said. "She says it feels great, but another four weeks of rehab will help her get back on the court."

Tony Baranek can be reached at tbaranek@southtownstar.com or (708) 633-5947.