JCA in line for Morris title
By Mike Cunniff
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mcunniff@morrisdailyherald.com
After playing the No. 17-seeded club Sandwich in its first match of the day, the Morris Lady Redskins came back to face the top-seeded Joliet Catholic Academy Angels.
And after losing 25-7 and 25-7, it was easy to see why the nationally-ranked Angels are where they are.
Now 35-1 [with its only loss to Assumption of Kentucky], JCA owned a 24-7 advantage in kills and surrendered just two service markers all night.
"I thought we played great," pointed out Angels coach Christine Scheibe. "We girls had a week off to get ready and they came out ready to play. They came right out and took charge."
JCA took charge right away, taking serve away from Morris as senior outside hitter Annemarie Hickey swatted a sideout kill. Hickey stepped to the stripe and rolled off nine consecutive markers before a hitting error by the Angels finally put the Lady Redskins on the board.
Hickey delivered two aces in the surge and had another couple of serves go unreturned but double touched. Senior middle Claire Randich cranked a pair of kills while senior outside Alyssa Warren provided another.
A couple of sideout kills by Kendall Korte of the Redskins, inciting the Morris crowd to boisterously boast 'She's a freshman,' kept the game interesting before four points from senior setter Jennifer Murphy [featuring an ace plus a pair of kills by Hickey] moved JCA to a 22-6 lead. The lone service miscue of the night turned it over before the Angels closed it out on a blistering kill by Randich.
It was more of the same in the nightcap, with Murphy leading out with three markers before senior outside hitter Hali Steffes swatted a sideout kill for the Redskins. Alex Rezin's turn at the line was short-lived, with Ranlich converting a quick set for a kill down the center slot.
Ranlich came right back with another quick-set kill. Neither of Hickey's next two serves were returned [although double touched, so no ace] before she collected a pair of aces.
"I did everything I could," said Morris coach Jackie Litwiller. "I tried subbing. I tried timeouts. At one point, I asked the girls 'what is going on?' and they said that they just couldn't return the serve. I hope that JCA goes on and wins state. That way we can say we lost to the state champions."
Korte stopped Hickey's serve with a sideout hit that was dug wide. A point by Redskins senior Lauren Hausken made it 14-4. Junior middle Lainey Wyman took advantage of a Hickey sideout kill to kick off a six-marker run with the sixth ace of the night for the visitors. Junior reserve Vanessa Owusu added a kill out of the right front before Wyman aced again. A kill by junior reserve Kate Brown made it match point but Rezin save Morris momentarily with a sideout flip.
Brown, though, closed it out with a whistling kill.
"They are good, they are very good," said Redskins senior co-captain Laura Wills. "But we had a good season."
Morris bowed out 13-18-3. Korte and Steffes had a trio of kills each for the Redskins. Steffes had three digs and Rezin five assists. Korte was credited with a dozen serve receives.
Murphy dished out 22 assists for the Angels. Hickey cranked eight kills while Randich had five and Wyman four. Warren had seven digs.
JCA will now face Glenbard South at 2 p.m. Saturday in the regioinal championship match.
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