St. Edward is struggling no more
BYRON - When St. Edward was struggling to win consistently at midseason against a schedule loaded with bigger schools, coach Jaime Walton and her players struck a deal.
While at a tournament in Effingham, it was agreed that if St. Edward went on to qualify for the Class 2A Final Four at Redbird Arena in Normal, Walton would have all 15 players serve as bridesmaids in her wedding next May.
Better call the seamstress. It's going to be a record-setting wedding party.
St. Edward advanced to the state finals for the second time in five seasons under Walton's guidance by edging Suburban Catholic Conference rival Immaculate Conception 25-22, 25-23 to claim the Byron supersectional title Saturday.
"This feels so amazing," said St. Edward senior setter Katie Yohn, who went downstate with the St. Edward girls basketball team when she was a sophomore. "We played so well and so hard in this game. I couldn't be any prouder of these girls."
The Green Wave (23-17) advance to the 12:30 p.m. state semifinal on Friday against Freeburg (34-5), which defeated Newton in 3 games to win the Vandalia supersectional.
It was a heartbreaking loss for Immaculate Conception (30-10), which was eliminated in the supersectional round for the second straight season. Last season the Knights were defeated by the Keith School of Rockford in a Class 1A supersectional.
"I just feel awful for our seniors, Catherine Guido, Danielle Remy, Mary Kate Manion and Mary Cheng," said IC coach Jean Field, whose teams have won over 700 matches and two state titles. "They've given so much to our program. I know they were so devastated last year after the loss in the supersectional, and they just wanted to go to the next step. It just didn't happen."
St. Edward had beaten the Knights twice in the regular season in close matches, both times in 3 games. After taking Game 1 Saturday, St. Edward broke free from a 23-23 tie in Game 2 with a spike off the IC block by senior Molly Morrisoe.
"We were getting nervous because it got really tight," said Morrisoe, whose team led by 9 early in Game 2. "When that happens I just so badly want to get the team back up again, and I think that kill encouraged us to win for sure. I'm just so happy we're going to state in my senior year. This is unbelievable."
At match point St. Edward set its money hitter, senior Kristen Haggenjos, and the Loyola-bound outside hitter cashed in with a spike off the IC block to clinch a state berth for the Green Wave.
Winning in 2 games was a relief for St. Edward, which had taken a 12-3 lead in Game 2 only to see the Knights come roaring back with a 13-3 run to tie it at 16. The comeback was led by Manion, who notched 3 of her team-best 7 kills and an ace to get the Knights back in the game.
"This was the most nerve-racking game I've ever been in at the end there," Haggenjos said. "I give them credit. We were up 9 and they came back. I was so nervous, but I knew our team could do it. This is the closest team I've ever been on. There was just so much love. We're so excited to be going downstate."
Game 1 featured 7 lead changes and 15 ties, the last tie coming at 22 courtesy of a soft kill to the middle of the St. Edward defense by the Knights' Abigale West. But Haggenjos lifted the Wave to the win with a block kill followed by a vicious spike down the sideline. The Knights hit long on game point to give St. Edward a 1-0 lead.
Haggenjos finished with 8 kills, an ace and 5 kills. Yohn led the Wave with 10 kills, 4 blocks, 9 assists and 2 aces.