Girls Volleyball: Marian Catholic Cruises Into State Semifinals

Gas up the buses and cars, and get ready for a caravan to Bloomington-Normal. The Spartans girls volleyball team is heading to state.

“Obviously, I'm very excited about it, as are the girls,” Marian coach Ryan Summers said Saturday night. “It's been a long road to get here, and you couldn't ask for a better storybook [finish.]”

Riding high from the , the team traveled to Park Forest for Saturday night’s showdown with Payton College Prep in the IHSA 3A supersectional at Rich East in Park Forest. The Spartans trailed only once in the entire match, when they were down 1-0 to the Grizzles to open game one.

From there, it was all Marian. The Spartans set and spiked their way to a 25-18, 25-13 victory to earn the supersectional crown.

Leading the way for the Spartans was Kelsey Clark with seven kills and three blocks, while Amber Clay hammered home five kills of her own. Colleen Rynne had 15 assists.

“Kelsey had a great game. I wouldn't say I expected it, but it doesn't really surprise me,” Summers said. “We have a lot of weapons, and the kids have had a lot of strong matches at different times.”

Both Summers and Clay said the supersectional title was the team's singular focus following the win over Illiana Christian in the sectional championship game.

“We didn't even think to talk about next week, we were talking about tonight,” Clay said. “Sectionals, we talked about sectionals; regionals, regionals—don't underestimate any team. We're one step, then the next. Don't plan ahead until we get past where we need to be.”

Clay put an exclamation point on Saturday’s victory, slamming home the winning point on a killer spike that thundered off her hand, full of the excitement and anger she had built up in the match.

“I think after I get blocked, the anger just rises up inside of me and I just want to kill [the ball],” Clay said. “It's like, when someone knocks me down, I want to go three steps higher.”

The next step higher for the Spartans is a state semifinal date with Marian Central Catholic High School of Woodstock at Illinois State University's Redbird Arena at 6 p.m. Friday.