Backs to the wall, Spartans rally

There is no better motivation for a team then when its back is against a wall and there is that sinking feeling that the season might come to an end unless it plays better.

That is how St. Francis senior Megan Barnicle, sophomore Kelsey Robinson and the rest of the Spartans felt after Rosary won the first game of the Class 3A Riverside-Brookfield girls volleyball sectional final Thursday.

Though St. Francis lost to the Royals twice during the regular season in Suburban Catholic Conference play, the Spartans were not about to let it happen a third time with much more at stake. The Spartans stepped up their play to capture the next two games in Riverside, 25-15 and 25-16, to advance to the supersectional they are hosting.

St. Francis will battle Joliet Catholic at 6 p.m. Monday.

"We didn't want our season to end," Barnicle said. "That really motivated us. We realize that it is our last game together."

"We realized that we needed to pick it up right now," Robinson said. "We gave it all we had. No matter what, we went for every ball. You have to give it all you have right now because you have no other chance."

Robinson and Barnicle led St. Francis (35-3) with 11 and 9 kills, respectively. After falling 25-19 in the opening game, Barnicle got things going in the second game with 4 kills. Robinson added 2 more kills to help the Spartans take a commanding 7-2 lead. Their play was infectious. Freshman outside hitter Meg Vonderhaar found openings in the defense to put away some big hits.

Meghan Matusiak played well at the net and defensive specialist Catherine Culligan came up with a team-high 11 digs. Michelle Kocher handled the setting chores well to dish 33 assists.

The all-around team effort was obviously crucial for the win, but Robinson said that the team learned its lesson from the previous two losses to Rosary.

"We let down in the other matches and it was over," Robinson said. "We realized that we can't let down and give up. We talked a lot and worked on that in practice -- talking."

In the third game the teams were even until the Spartans pulled ahead 11-7. Matusiak had a sweet block kill in that stretch. After trading points with the Royals, St. Francis put it away with a 6-1 run. Barnicle, who had a team-best 5 blocks, had 3 kills, one on a block. Matusiak added a pair of kills too.

"Everything flowed in the second and third games," Robinson said. "It was team momentum."

"Third time is the charm," added St. Francis coach Peg Kopec. "The team just had so much heart tonight."