Leavitt, Rockets reach State Finals

Marv Leavitt

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FREEPORT -- A dedicated coaching career centered around enriching individual lives came full circle for Burlington Central's Marv Leavitt on Saturday night.

Leavitt's Rockets turned back Metamora 25-23, 25-19 at the Freeport Class 3A Super-Sectional to advance to the State Finals for the first time in program history, joining area squads St. Charles East and St. Edward next weekend at Redbird Arena in Normal.

Leavitt previously coached both St. Charles and St. Edward -- never moving past the sectional round -- before taking over the Rockets program four years ago.

Nineteen seasons into his coaching career, Leavitt can finally celebrate a trip Downstate.

"All three teams I've coached are going Downstate," Leavitt said. "I can't ask for anything more.

"I don't want to base my career on getting Downstate because I think you try to base your career on reaching kids' lives and doing the right thing and teaching good values. But certainly this is a great honor for me at this stage in my career."

Central (33-6) will take on Chicago Payton on Friday in one semifinal match.

"Our dream was to go Downstate and now that's come true," said Burlington Central junior Stephanie Holthus, who guided the Rockets to victory with 15 kills, five aces and four blocks. "It's amazing to be a part of a team that is the first to go Downstate.

"As long as we continue to play our game no one can stop us."

No one could stop Holthus on this night. The high-flying outside hitter made her presence felt immediately against Metamora (35-3), opening the match with Central's first three points, all via kills.

Central trailed 7-5 in Game 1 before taking control behind the serving of Holthus, the setting of senior Molly Turk (23 assists) and timely hitting from junior Taylor Scully (9 kills).

Holthus had two aces to push the lead to as much as 18-14 before the Redbirds mounted a late rally. Metamora got within 24-23 when Leavitt called his team's first timeout. Scully then ended Game 1 with a kill off an assist from freshman Kaitlyn O'Reilly.

"Scoring the last point was a great feeling," said Scully, who transferred to Burlington Central from Florida prior to the season. "We won because of great team work. We keep working together and we never give up."

Game 2 stared out on an ominous note for the Rockets as the Redbirds scored the first two points, but Central answered immediately with an 11-2 run to seize control. At one point during the spurt, Holthus served up three straight aces -- sending a boisterous Rockets student section into a frenzy, while sucking the life out of the Redbirds. Central would eventually end the match on another game-ending kill by Scully.

"We are not doing anything fancy (on offense)," Leavitt said. "We don't have big players so we have to pass the ball and serve aggressive. It's not a fancy formula, but it works."

Metamora did get within 15-12 in Game 2, but the Rockets went straight to Holthus for a momentum-halting kill. After that, all that was left was the ensuing celebration.

"There have been a lot of special moments with players and relationships over the years and that has nothing to do with winning or losing," Leavitt said. "This means a lot to me and hopefully the players and the community. This is a big thing for this school."