IC just keeps winning

The Immaculate Conception girls volleyball team found itself in a familiar spot Thursday night during the Class 2A sectional championship at Luther North.

But despite being down a game to Chicago Christian, a team that beat the Knights during the regular season, Immaculate Conception rallied to claim the match and the title 21-25, 25-18, 25-17.

"I told the kids after that first game that we've been here before," said Knights coach Jean Field. "We've lost the first game, come out and regrouped and gotten it together."

A vicious front-line attack from Chicago Christian throughout the first game forced a few changes to Immaculate Conception's strategy. The Knights began double blocking the opposing hitters and amped up their aggression on defense.

Senior libero Catherine Guido tallied 15 digs and sophomore Colleen Manion added 7, almost all of which came in the final two games.

Trailing 6-4 in Game 3, Manion took over serve and set the comeback in motion. She led a 7-0 run and racked up 3 aces in that span. Immaculate Conception never gave the lead back.

"I was as surprised as anyone," Manion said of her serving. "I was just serving to weaker passers and it worked."

Her older sister, senior Mary Kate Manion, led the offense with 7 kills, 4 of which came during the final 6 points of Game 2.

"I give a lot of credit to the middle, they held the blocks for me," Mary Kate Manion said. "I found open areas and just put it where they weren't."