Postseason Report | Mother McAuley tops Normal West to punch ticket to state
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
Mother McAuley has 16 state championships in girls volleyball, but it’s been a while since the Mighty Macs have gone back-to-back.
The last time it happened was 1994 and 1995, when they won Class AA titles.
The Macs could make it happen again this weekend as they participate in the IHSA Class 4A state tournament Nov. 10 and 11 at CEFCU Arena, previously known as Redbird Arena, on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal.
McAuley (35-5) takes on Barrington (35-5) at 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 in the semifinals. The Macs beat Barrington, 25-17, 25-23, on Oct. 14.
Willowbrook and Benet face each other in the other game.
McAuley reached the Final Four with a 25-19, 25-21 victory over Normal West in the Normal Community Sectional. Ellie White had 11 kills and Sydney Buchanan six.
White, who will play in college at Michigan next year, leads the Macs this season with 456 kills. Buchanan is second with 178 and Alabama recruit Ellery Rees is third with 140.
Boys cross country
Lyons finished fourth in the Class 3A state meet on Nov. 4 at Detweiller Park in Peoria. Cillian Henning and Nicholas Strayer picked up all-state honors for finishing in the top 25. Henning was 15th with a 14:38.98 and Strayer 18th with a 14:40.03.
Cooper Marrs of Riverside-Brookfield claimed 19th with a 14:40.21 to earn all-state honors.
In Class 2A, St. Laurence’s Luis Flores grabbed the final all-state slot with a 15:09.74.
Girls cross country
Sandburg was the top finisher in Class 3A with a 10th-place finish.
The Eagles were led by Lindsey Gerhardstein’s all-state-earning 20th-place finish in 17:26.42.
Lyons finished 12th.
In Class 1A, Chicago Christian finished sixth. The Knights’ Grace Mullin was 21st in 17:57.79.
Girls swimming
Lyons won the Hinsdale Central Sectional with 318 points, just eight ahead of runner-up Hinsdale Central.
Lions junior Ella Jean Kelly won the 50 free in :23.64 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.07. Maeve Collins won the 100 fly in :56.09 and Audrey Cavaliere won the 100 free in :51.12.
Cavaliere, Collins, Libby Langan and Kelly were sectional champs in the 200 free relay in 1:34.41. Cavaliere, Langan, Kylie Thompson and Kelly won the 400 free relay in 3:27.71.
Riverside-Brookfield’s Hailey Vlcek won the 200 free in 1:51.18. It’s the second-best sectional time in the state this season, earning Vlcek the No. 2 seed at the state meet.
Sandburg took second in the Lockport Sectional, finishing 14 points behind the host Porters.
Senior Maya Dobry was a sectional champion in the 200 IM (2:08.68) and in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.38).
Stagg junior Alexandra Jancekova won in the 200 free in 1:55.16 and 500 free in 5:12.45.
The state meet is Nov. 10-11 at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont.
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