An Angelic moment
Sweet doesn't begin to describe how Lainey Wyman celebrated her 16th birthday.
Around noon, the Joliet Catholic Academy middle hitter feasted on a chocolate ice cream sundae and opened cards from her closest friends and well-wishers in a special team gathering called to mark the occasion at Ruby Tuesday's.
(Michael R. Schmidt/Staff photographer)
Then, a few short hours later, she feasted at the net in JCA's 25-19, 25-14 volleyball victory over Burlington Central in the 3A state championship match on Saturday night at ISU's Redbird Arena.
Wyman, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, made good on 5-of-9 attack attempts and finished with five kills and a .556 hitting percentage as the Angels overpowered a smaller Burlington Central squad en route to winning their second state title in a show of balance and determination.
JCA (39-3) won its first title on Nov. 15, 2003 -- five years ago to the day.
Wyman was 11 years old and just beginning to cut her teeth in volleyball. She couldn't have imagined then celebrating with a gold medal hanging from her neck or JCA's student fans reaching to touch the Angels' trophy in a parade to the edge of the stands.
"Oh, it's definitely the best gift ever," Wyman said. "I mean, I wanted to win state no matter what, birthday or no birthday, but this is definitely icing on the cake."
Wyman's remark drew a roar from her teammates who were crowded around her during a news conference after the match concluded.
"Literally," she said, flashing a knowing smile.
Burlington Central (35-7) managed to hang with JCA in the early going of Game 1 due in large part to the play of 6-0 junior outside hitter Stephanie Holthus, the Rockets' tallest player and most accomplished all-around athlete. Holthus played in the 15-under Junior Olympic Championships last summer.
Burlington Central pulled into a 12-12 deadlock on a JCA net violation. The Angels closed out the first game with a 13-7 run fueled by Wyman.
She scored on a block of Burlington Central's Meghan Zasada to put JCA on top 21-14. Later, Wyman fired an ace serve off Zasada and Katie Hickey scored the game point on a tip shot over the Rockets' defense at the net.
In Game 2, JCA's Annemarie Hickey went on a 6-0 service run that included a pair of aces. Her work helped the Angels charge to a 22-11 lead. The game and match ended moments later with two Burlington Central players unsuccessfully scrambling to dig a ball up from within an arm's reach of press row.
Annemarie Hickey went toe-to-toe with Holthus as the two girls wearing the No. 1 waged a battle for a bigger No. 1 prize. Annemarie Hickey finished with 10 kills and a .421 hitting percentage. Holthus led the Rockets with 13 kills.
The victory for JCA was its second of the season over Burlington Central and enabled the Angels to match a school single-season record for wins (39).
When the two teams first met on Sept. 6 at the Geneva Invitational, JCA rallied from one-game down to claim a 21-25, 25-16, 25-17 victory.
"We did go after their middles a little bit," JCA coach Christine Scheibe said. "But I think from the first time we played them -- they were our first real tough match of the season and we hadn't seen that level of play yet. We were kind of slow in the first game.
"We knew they were a good, quality team, and we would have to come out and play. And we knew if we played our style of volleyball we were going to end up with the championship today."
"They served a little stronger tonight than they did in the prior game," Burlington Central coach Marvin Leavitt said. "I think that got us a little out of our system.
"And we just weren't as prepared for their setter attacks, you know, they put the ball in the corners and in different places. But that's my responsibility, not the players. I wish I had them better prepared for that."
JCA senior setter Gina Vera scored on dumps and push shots. She also made a point to deliver the ball to the middle of the floor where the Angels could take advantage of their size on the front line - Wyman, Claire Randich (6-0), Katie Hickey (5-9) and Annemarie Hickey (5-8) taking turns delivering kill shots.
Vera finished with a match-high 15 assists. She also had 5 kills and 5 digs. Alyssa Warren added 5 kills and Stephanie Keca chipped in with 6 digs.
"That wasn't the original plan -- to go so often to the middle," Vera said. "We adjusted to what they were doing, and I was setting Annemarie (Hickey) some 'quicks' in the middle. Lainey (Wyman) was hitting out of the middle. And Kaite (Hickey) put a couple balls down."
Vera, a Butler recruit, was one of four seniors playing in her final match for JCA.
"It's the ultimate dream to go out like this," she said. "I think we just achieved one of the best things ever. I'm speechless, really. I'm so happy.
"We had such an amazing season, to go from a team that wasn't ranked. That was our mission all year, to prove that we were a great team without all the individual stars. We played together. And we all love each other."
