Benet bands together on defense
Benet just had too many weapons for Hinsdale Central to handle, and we're not just talking about offense here.
The top-seeded Redwings (35-4) got their usual big hitting nights from Gina Finke and Sierra Young but also received some clutch kills from Meghan Haggerty and Lara Ontko en route to knocking off Hinsdale Central 25-23, 25-20 in Thursday's 4A sectional final at Lockport.
But Benet also did in the Red Devils (33-6) thanks in large part to a superb team effort on defense. Senior libero Brianne Riley dove all over the floor to keep plays alive, yet was quick to credit her team's play as a whole after the school earned a berth in Saturday's Normal supersectional against Quincy.
"We focus on team defense, and if we do that nothing's going to hit the floor," said Riley, who recorded 15 digs in the victory. "I get fired up (after a big dig), but I'm just getting the ball up for my teammates."
Early in the opener the Redwnigs were a little sloppy and found themselves trailing 8-3 when coach Brad Baker called a timeout. Before long it was tied at 10-10 following one of Finke's team-high 10 kills. The game went back and forth from there before the Redwings prevailed 25-23 as Haggerty and Finke each delivered kills to break a 23-all tie.
"We came out swinging and made some unforced errors," Finke said. "Then we settled in and got in a rhythm."
The Red Devils, meanwhile, never did seem to get in a rhythm. After knocking off Benet early this season, Thursday marked a second straight loss to the Redwings, and this time it ended their record-setting season.
"We were a little bit off tonight and I don't know how to explain it," Hinsdale Central coach Sheralyn Kellough said. "It's frustrating to go out like that. But I told them we've got a ton to be proud of and we need to walk out of the gym with our heads held high."
The Redwings made few mistakes in Game 2, yet the Red Devils did battle back from a 17-11 deficit to close to within 19-18. Sophomore Ally Davis had a soaring block kill during the rally and teammate Ellie VanKeirsbilck added an ace.
Melissa Marcucci led Hinsdale with 7 kills on the night, but Benet's defense did a great job containing Davis and Natalia Skiba, who combined for 6 kills. Grace Girardot had a pair of aces and Haggerty then turned a 19-18 lead into a 21-18 bulge with a block kill and a kill as the deep Redwings proved too tough for the Red Devils on this night.
"We were neck and neck most of the game, but we got a ton of kills and aces when we needed them most," said Haggerty, a 6-foot-2 sophomore. "It just feels so good to win and get to state."
When asked when he started to feel comfortable, Baker, who guided Benet to a second-place trophy last season, said he felt his team had things in control midway through Game 2.
"In the middle of that second game, I thought our defense was playing extremely well," he said.
Because of that they have another chance at a state trophy while the Red Devils close out a solid season.