Joliet C. defends title at Geneva

The No. 1 player in the land paid a house visit to Geneva on Saturday, and Kelly Murphy more than lived up to her peerless billing.

Joliet Catholic's 6-foot-2 southpaw, who seamlessly balances outside hitting and setting with equal brilliance, was a difference-maker in every respect.

Burlington Central and Geneva found out the hard way.

Murphy had 22 of her 54 kills during the Angels' championship-bracket wins over the two schools; the Vikings fell 25-14 and 25-12 in the semifinals, while Central, which nearly forced Joliet Catholic to a decisive third game in the final pool-play match, dropped a 25-18 and 25-13 verdict in the championship match.

It was the second year in a row Joliet Catholic claimed the girls volleyball title at Geneva.

Joliet Catholic extended its season-opening winning streak to seven with its flawless performance; Geneva is 6-1 after defeating Morris for a second time in the third-place match, and Central stands at 5-2 after its pair of losses to the Angels.

"I try not to think about (the media attention) and play every game," said Murphy, the consensus top-ranked senior in the country. "I definitely have a lot more experience setting. This is the first year I have played on the outside."

Whether blistering winners or providing her teammates textbook opportunities, Murphy was a force all morning and afternoon, fittingly ending the tournament with a clean ace against Burlington Central.

"(Murphy) is phenomenal," said Burlington Central coach Marv Leavitt. "She can do so many things so well."

"She puts me in a comfort zone," said Joliet Catholic coach Christine Scheibe. "I know it's almost an automatic kill when she hits it."

Burlington Central and Joliet Catholic advanced with a pair of easy victories in the opening rounds of pool play. The Angels emerged with a hard-fought 25-18 and 25-23 victory in the teams' initial encounter.

"I don't know what happened (in the championship match)," said Burlington Central libero Brooke Porto. "In the championship game, you have to come out with your 'A' game."

"Burlington Central, they're a scrappy team," said Scheibe. "They didn't look like the same team the second time we played."

Joliet Catholic dominated the middle portions of both games to build healthy cushions, and Central, which topped Morris 25-10, 25-14 to reach the title match, was not as crisp as in the first match.

"Our passing was much sharper in the first match," said Leavitt.

Kim Ingraham and Teresa Krog were the Rockets' offensive leaders.

"They have some very good middles," said Scheibe.

Geneva was perfect in pool play, recording wins over Morris, IMSA and Sandwich. After its disappointing performance against Joliet Catholic in the semifinals, the Vikings finished with a flurry in their rematch against Morris.

The Redskins (3-3) led 14-11 in the opening game, but a service error gave Geneva the chance it was craving. And did Betsey York, with the front row of Kelsey Augustine, Jenny Pokorny and Lauren Wicinski ever respond.

York served 12 consecutive points, an uninterrupted run that featured 4 kills by Augustine and a pair each from her sidekicks. Augustine had a similar personal stretch to put Geneva ahead for good in the second game as the Vikings prevailed 25-17 and 25-14 for third-place honors.

"It was our stupid mistakes (that costs us against Joliet Catholic)," said Augustine, one of five sophomores on the Vikings' roster. "We came together well (as the day progressed)."