One final award for Marist’s Dempsey

Garrett Dempsey looked up at the scoreboard and stared, a quick grimace on his face followed by a look of disbelief.

Dempsey’s four-year varsity volleyball career at Marist, a run loaded with accolades and a state title his junior year, was over, ended by a straight-set loss to eventual state champ Sandburg in the sectional finals.

“It’s been a fun ride, and it seems like a long four years, but it’s been fast,” Dempsey said later. “I don’t think it has settled in yet.”

While Marist’s quest for back-to-back state championships came up short, Dempsey’s contributions to a 33-6 squad earned him the 2011 SouthtownStar Boys Volleyball Player of the Year award.

It was neither his first honor, nor a high priority.

“I like playing the sport so getting the awards is cool, but I just love to play,” Dempsey said.

Dempsey was named the unanimous East Suburban Catholic Conference player of the year for the second straight season, earned the MVP title at the Brother Rice Smack Attack, and was named to all-tournament teams at Marist and Wheaton Warrenville South.

Recently, the setter was announced as a Second Team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, honoring him as one of the 20 top players in the nation. Yet his highest accolades generally came from the coaches who faced him, and the one who guided him at Marist.

“I’ve never had a kid that’s more valuable to the program than him,” the RedHawks’ Bob St. Leger said. “He’s the quarterback, and he’s contributed to over 100 wins. He’s the coach on the floor, and he was the show out there. If you asked him, he wouldn’t say that, but that’s the type of kid he is.”

Dempsey’s run leading the RedHawks to a state title in 2010 was no doubt impressive, but his senior performance was more so.

He racked up 868 assists (over 2,600 for his career), 42 block kills, 185 digs, 137 service points and 31 kills. All five of Marist’s primary hitters finished with over 115 kills, a credit to Dempsey spreading the ball around.

At midseason, the RedHawks lost perhaps their most skilled offensive player, Jim Mead, to a season-ending knee injury. Dempsey’s ability to establish rapport with new hitters coming off the bench pushed the team.

“It just made everyone step up,” Dempsey said. “When Jim went down, I just had to distribute the ball out (more evenly) to everyone else.”

The RedHawks advanced to the sectional finals, falling to Sandburg for the third time this season. Dempsey dished out 15 assists in the loss.

“It was his work ethic and intelligence,” St. Leger said. “It was more a leader by example thing. He gets everything out of every bit of ability he has. More importantly, he’s just a great kid.”

Dempsey will continue his playing career at UC San Diego.

“I’m going to have to earn the spot (in the lineup), but I’m ready for the challenge.”

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