Downers Grove North Trojans Force Mother McAuley Into a Three-Set Thriller Before Falling Short in State Play
Junior setter Ellery Cabaj recorded 25 digs as the Trojans erased a 10-2 deficit in the final set against the Mighty Macs.
By Marco Whitaker ·
Mother McAuley advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals for the 27th time after defeating Downers Grove North 25-12, 25-19, 25-22 in the Lyons Supersectional on Monday. The victory ended the Trojans' season, but the result came after a defensive stand that kept the match close well into the final frame.
The Mighty Macs took the first set decisively, leading to expectations of a straight-set victory. Downers Grove North junior setter Ellery Cabaj described the team's reaction in the huddle after that loss. She said the players told themselves they were not done and that the season would not end in two sets. The Trojans responded by taking the second set 25-19.
The third set saw the closest competition of the match. Mother McAuley built a 10-2 lead early in the frame. The Trojans clawed back behind aggressive serving and consistent digging. Senior outside Brynne Burkhart served two aces in the closing minutes. Her back-to-back serves tied the game at 16-16. Senior outside Nicole Liu followed with consecutive kills to give Downers Grove North a 20-19 lead.
Mother McAuley coach Jen DeJarld credited the Trojans with excellent defensive play. She noted that Downers Grove North's middle hitters were difficult to stop and that their blocking was effective. DeJarld said the Mighty Macs did enough offensively to win, but the Trojans played with high intensity.
Liu led all players with 17 kills in the match. Cabaj recorded 25 digs. Senior libero Angelika Krob added 16 digs, while Liu contributed 12 and Burkhart recorded 10. Liu said she was surprised by how well her team blunted McAuley's offense. She attributed the team's success to playing defensively one step higher than usual.
Downers Grove North coach Mark Wasik said his team focused on defensive preparation during the final month of the season. He expressed pride in how the group executed that plan. Wasik noted that the team's composure has been a consistent trait throughout the year. He said the players could look back on the final scores to see who challenged the top-seeded Mighty Macs in that manner.
The loss marked the end of the season for four senior starters on the Trojans. In addition to Liu and Krob, Burkhart recorded seven kills and five service points. Sienna Shelton added five kills. Liu said she had begun telling people the team would reach the state tournament, but the run stopped at the supersectional level.
Mother McAuley's next opponent will face a team that has advanced to the state semifinals for the 27th consecutive year. Downers Grove North returns next season with Cabaj, junior middle Samantha Hancock, sophomore setter Madi Mastalarz, and junior middle Evelyn Pundmann. The Trojans reached the sectional final in each of Cabaj's first three seasons.
