NORMAL — Senior libero Elayna Davidson has grown up around the Marist girls volleyball program.
She watched her three older sisters play for the RedHawks, including Natalie as the starting libero on the 2017 Class 4A state championship team.
So she just wanted her chance to leave her own mark.
Closing out an impressive high-school career, Davidson had 11 digs and six assists as Marist defeated Benet 25-18, 25-17 on Nov. 15 to win the Class 4A state title at CEFCU Arena.
Davidson is a Maryland recruit, an Orland Park resident, a four-year varsity player and three-year starter at libero.
“When I was little, this is all I could think about,” Davidson said. “This is the most thrilling moment and the biggest way I wanted to end it for my program and my family. My family has supported me in everything I do, especially Marist volleyball. I really wanted to do it for them.”
It was Marist’s second straight title and fourth since 2017.
Seniors Cassidy Cage (nine kills, two blocks) and Savannah Weathers (two kills, five digs), juniors Taylor Berg (eight kills, two aces) and Maggie Kurpeikis (seven kills, three blocks) and freshman Haven Enselman (20 assists, two blocks) powered the way to the title.
Marist (36-5) did not go to a third set in any of its seven state playoff matches.
Kurpeikis, a Michigan recruit, said the team achieved a perfect mix late in the season.
“We’ve found a really good balance being uber-competitive but still having that calm composure on the court,” Kurpeikis said. “We showed that really well today. We’re going after it but having a lot of composure.”
Marist dominated throughout the two-set win.
It was only late in the second that Benet threatened the RedHawks, cutting an eight-point lead to 19-17.
Cage smashed a kill and then Kurpeikis followed with her own.
The Kurpeikis kill came after Davidson made an impressive dig from her knees with her back to the net.
“We trust our teammates so much,” Davidson said. “If I just put the ball up, Maggie would kill it. I knew it. I love playing defense. It’s not letting the point end for my team and being able to set them up for the best possible (swing). If I threw it to Maggie, she’d kill it.”
Marist closed the match out with a 6-0 run.
Cage had the kill and two blocks, teaming with Kurpeikis on one, down the stretch.
“It was just focusing on our side no matter who’s on the other side,” Cage, a Mississippi State recruit, said. “Just stay disciplined. In my head, we just needed one point to keep going (late). They’re a good team. They’re going to have runs like that. My team was behind me to take that swing.”
Marist coach Jordan Vidovic has now won four straight titles across the boys and girls seasons.
He’s won seven state titles overall.
“It shows the way we do things,” Vidovic said. “That’s what I’m most proud of. We can lose players, but some things remain the same. It’s always player-led. There’s a standard here. It’s a cool thing to be a part of.”