Benet goes the distance
A lot of tight matches against some great girls volleyball programs has helped prepare Benet for a variety of situations.
But who could prepare for 8 straight match points in a critical Game 3?
That's what the Redwings were up against Tuesday night when Marist came to town with a share of the East Suburban Catholic Conference crown on the line. With a screaming fan section helping out, Benet (30-3, 7-1) somehow managed to fend off the 8 match points and eventually pull out a 25-27, 25-17, 34-32 victory. That positions the Redwings for a shot at sharing the ESCC title with Joliet Catholic, which suffered its first league loss earlier this week.
"It's nice to see our team in pressure situations be able to pull out tight matches," Redwings coach Bard Baker said after the long match. "We've continually gotten better at playing in pressure situations."
You couldn't find any more pressure than late in the decisive game as the RedHawks claimed lead after lead with captain Maggie Malone delivering clutch kills and Jacqueline Lang adding big plays on both offense and defense down the stretch for Marist (21-9, 7-2).
After Marist pulled out the opener 27-25, Benet junior outside hitter Ariana Mankus powered her team back by hammering 8 of her match-high 20 kills as the hosts drew even by taking the second game 25-17. Game 3 featured 18 ties before Redwings setter Beth Kinsella set up Natalie Patzin for a soaring kill and a 33-32 Benet lead.
When Marist followed with a hitting error, the Redwings had finally claimed the big win.
"The good thing about us is we've proven before and we proved again that we are able to stay in control in pressure situations," Mankus said.
With the match on the line, Mankus and Patzin took turns coming up big for Benet. It was kills from Mankus that tied the match at 26-all and 30-all, while Patzin, who had 15 kills on the night, delivered timely attacks that kept her team alive and drew even at 27-all and 29-all.
"It's an adrenaline rush and it's stressful, but the rush makes you go boom and hit the ball," Mankus said in describing the pressure-packed stages of Game 3.
Marist coach Natalie Holder, whose squad would boast an even better mark than 21-9 if not for its difficult schedule, was not upset afterward because she knew her team played a great match on the road and came up just short.
"I don't like to lose but I'm so proud of them," she said. "It literally could have gone either way. You know, Benet earned it. But we're peaking at the right time."