NORMAL — The high-school careers of Nazareth seniors Jane Manecke and Beth Surowiec ended Saturday with a familiar result in a familiar place.
As freshmen, they made brief appearances when the Roadrunners lost to St. Francis in the 2022 Class 3A state championship game at CEFCU Arena.
Three years later, Manecke, a middle hitter, and Surowiec, an outside hitter, returned to CEFCU as starters and esteemed leaders of the Roadrunners.
“They were assistant coaches,” first-year Nazareth coach Esai Velez said. “They bring the leadership. They bring everything.”
Manecke and Surowiec brought the Roadrunners (21-19) back to the state title game after a remarkable playoff run that included a string of upsets, capped by a 25-16, 25-17 win over Providence (34-8) in Friday’s semifinals.
Heavily favored Normal U-High (38-4) denied Nazareth’s bid for a second state title by beating the Roadrunners 25-20, 25-20 in the final. Manecke contributed two kills and three blocks, while Surowiec had two kills and six assists.
The loss did nothing to put a damper on an incredible turnaround season. The Roadrunners were 3-31 last season and few could have foreseen a return trip to the state finals.
“It was kind of surreal for me because I remember my freshman year,” Manecke said. “I was like, ‘I want to be one of the people being interviewed when I’m a senior.’
“I’m so grateful. Being a leader now, it’s so cool being able to see the underclassmen have this experience, too.”
Surowiec enjoyed everything about the experience.
“I haven’t had this much fun on a volleyball team in any of my club seasons or high-school seasons,” Surowiec said. “Just being a leader was so special and different.
“I have to give credit to all the girls up here. They just do so much and they make me so happy.”
Manecke and Surowiec made Velez happy and his job easier.
“I shared my tools and tried to help them, but they were kind of like running the show,” Velez said. “They know how to win, they know how to run the program, so I was very happy that I got help from them.”
With two second-place state trophies bookending a career that saw the Roadrunners endure the worst season in program history, Manecke and Surowiec had a rollercoaster career in terms of on-court results.
“Obviously, we’ve had very contrasting seasons, but I think my whole experience has been the same,” Manecke said. “It’s been so amazing.
“There’s no other program that I’d be on and to get to go downstate or have 31 losses.”
What accounted for the vast improvement?
“Our chemistry is so good and so amazing,” Manecke said. “With our two very different seasons that we’ve had, the one thing that was the same every time was just how fun it was, how much I love my teammates. I think the experience overall was just amazing.”
Manecke and Surowiec are both uncommitted but Velez, who has coached at the college level, said they are capable of playing at the next level and wants to see them continue their careers.
“I hope so,” Velez said. “They’re great players. They can fit in any program.”
Surowiec, like Manecke, said Nazareth was the perfect fit for her and her senior season a fitting ending.
“It’s just been an amazing experience overall,” Surowiec said, “and great way to end my career.”