Mankus, Redwings hold own tournament crown

Benet took center stage in its girls volleyball tournament.

The host Redwings grabbed the spotlight down the stretch, using Ariana Mankus' career-high 18 kills to tip Lemont 25-16, 19-25, 32-30 in the championship match of the Benet Invitational Saturday afternoon in Lisle.

"We really pulled through mentally," said Mankus, a 5-foot-8 junior outside hitter with hops who bopped 9 kills in Game 3. "It was a physical, mental game, and what it came down to is who wanted it more. We were passing, we were swinging, we were hitting and we never gave up. That was the key."

There were eight match-point serves in the third game with Benet (23-2) winning on its sixth one.

The Redwings scored the last 3 points. Mankus landed a sharp cut shot and then jump served a sinking ace before Val Mattalino won it with a block.

"That was awesome," Benet coach Brad Baker. "We held our composure. Both teams had multiple game points, and we still continued to be aggressive even under pressure situations."

Courtney Keefe's 12 kills led Lemont (24-3).

"That's the way it should be," Injuns coach Chris Zogata said of the title match's competitiveness. "It was a matter of a shot here or there."

Beth Kinsella collected 42 assists, tourney MVP Paige Vargas made 32 digs and Jessica Jendryk totaled 14 kills for Benet, which advanced with a 25-16, 25-15 semifinal victory against Champaign Centennial.

Champaign Centennial (24-2) took third with a 25-19, 25-19 sweep of Lockport (15-10).

Waubonsie Valley (19-7) was disappointed in its sixth-place showing in the 16-team tourney.

After tipping Wheaton Academy 26-24, 19-25, 25-23 behind Nicole Salmon's 9 kills, Joslyn Drew's 7 kills and Kari Galen's 4 blocks, the Warriors dropped a 25-17, 25-11 decision to Providence (20-7).

Waubonsie Valley setter Kassie Kadera was ejected from the Wheaton Academy match for swearing. The senior said the official mistakenly thought it was directed at him. The ejection forced Kadera to sit out the Providence match.

"Obviously that hurt, but we did not pass well at all," Warriors coach Kristen Stuart said after the Providence loss. "If you can't pass, you cannot win."