STEADY HITTER
Marist’s Jedry makes ‘right play’ against McAuley in sectional championship victory
A one-on-one battle at the net doesn’t necessarily bring out the power in Marist senior Avery Jedry.
It brings out her smarts. “I don’t think it’s more of who’s stronger,” Jedry said. “I think it’s who is seeing it first and makes the right play.”
The 5-foot-11 outside hitter used her smarts Wednesday to make the most critical play for the host RedHawks in a 25-21, 25-13 win over Mother McAuley in the Class 4A Marist Sectional championship match.
The RedHawks were clinging to a 21-20 lead in Game 1 when Jedry went up for a ball against McAuley’s Amia Owolabi.
Jedry was the first to reach it. With both hands, she tipped the ball over Owolabi’s head and down for a kill.
On the next rally, Jedry pounded a spike to the floor.
She was playing well. She was playing with poise.
“Starting last year I’ve gotten used to this,” Jedry said. “Knowing this was my last match at Marist, our last McAuley-Marist matchup, it gave me confidence to do my best.”
Jedry finished with eight kills and seven digs for Marist (37-2). Clemson recruit Camryn Hannah added 10 kills, 10 digs and 12 assists, while Mairead Boyle had 18 digs.
The RedHawks plays Sandburg at 7 p.m. Friday in the Eisenhower Supersectional.
“Avery is as steady as can be,” Marist coach Jordan Vidovic said. “It doesn’t matter what point of the game it is, she’s going to do her thing.
“Our girls know she’s going to be rock-solid coming off of a point tough, coming off of a big point. And she can see the court as well as anybody.”
Junior middle hitter Ellie Kurpeikis was a differencemaker for the RedHawks in Game 2. She had back-to-back blocks and then slammed down an overpass.
The RedHawks led just 6-5 before her three-point streak started a runaway.
“I was working with something on my blocking that was really specific last practice,” Kurpeikis said. “I knew I had to be big out there and put the ball down.”
McAuley (29-9) proved to be a big challenge for Marist in Game 1. The Mighty Macs made an impressive run after an 0-4 start to the year.
Junior outside hitter Connie LeBel had four kills and eight digs against Marist.
“We had a great season,” Mighty Macs coach Jen DeJarld said. “I’m really proud of the transformation the team made. They worked extra hard, and we have a lot coming back.”
Comeback roar: Joliet Catholic trailed Providence 12-4 in Game 2 of Wednesday’s Class 3A sectional title match when coach Christine Scheibe noticed a nice trend brewing.
“We were picking away at it a point here and a point there,” Scheibe said. “Then when we actually got it to 14-10, I told the girls, ‘Beat ‘em to 15.’ For some reason, that 10-14 just hit me like, ‘OK, we can get to 15 before they do.’ ”
The Angels did, and went on to beat Providence 25-21, 25-20 for their 11th sectional title since 2003. Lewis recruit Bella Ray had eight kills for JCA (24-14), which plays De La Salle (31-6) in Friday’s Hinsdale South Supersectional.
Been a while: Sandburg’s 25-17, 25-17 win over Andrew earned the program its first sectional title since 2004. That team, coached by Kelly Mendoza, went on to compete in the Class AA state quarterfinals.
Current Eagles coach David Vales has won regional titles in each of his 13 seasons.
“I have all of the regional plaques in my classroom,” Vales said. “The other day one of my students said, ‘Where are the sectionals?’ I said, “Well, I hope we’ll get one this year.’ It was something special.”