Marian Catholic libero Marlie Peterson faced a setback when a storm on August 11 damaged the roof and gym floor of the Chicago Heights school. This disrupted plans for the girls volleyball season, forcing the team to play all matches away until December. The news of no home games left Peterson and senior Jade Craft upset. Peterson expressed, “Jade and I actually started crying. We were very upset. We waited so long for this season. And then we were told we couldn’t have any home games.”
Kennedy Hylton, another senior and a middle hitter, shared similar feelings. “We feed off the energy of our home fans, so it’s been hard on us. We like it when our crowd backs us up,” Hylton said. Marian Catholic’s journey continued as they finished second in the bronze division of the Spartan Classic hosted in Oak Lawn.
For Peterson, Craft, and Hylton, this season marks their last in volleyball. All three seniors plan to focus on academics in college. Marian coach Julia Glomb hopes to organize a senior night on October 13 against Joliet Catholic in a smaller gym. “It would mean a lot because it’s really something that you look forward to,” Peterson said regarding the senior night event. Craft emphasized the camaraderie developed over the years, saying, “We all went through four years together. This year, we’ve been supporting the underclassmen. We’re like big sisters to them.” Hylton, too, looks forward to a senior night, stating, “We want to end it with a bang. We want that appreciation.”
In a different competition, St. Laurence made headlines by winning a regular-season tournament for the first time in 2024, and they have been unstoppable since. They clinched their third consecutive Spartan Classic title with a 29-27, 25-23 win over Providence. Senior outside hitter Aubrey Martinez played a vital role in this success. “We love it here,” she said, acknowledging the skill level of competing teams. Martinez will attend Ball State as a libero, yet her attacking skills shone brightly during the tournament. “I’m trying to figure out my shots and bang the ball as hard as I can especially since this is my last year hitting,” she said.
Upcoming competitions are set as the Illinois High School Association announced playoff assignments. The Class 4A section hosted by Argo includes strong contenders like two-time state champion Marist and Mother McAuley, along with St. Laurence and Lyons. St. Laurence, now in their second year in 4A, previously lost to both Marist and Mother McAuley. “Those teams have very talented girls and I play club with most of them,” Martinez said. “We’re building to get better. We played them at the beginning of the season, and if we play them again, we’ll be ready. We’re not letting it go without a fight.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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