Marian Catholic and St. Laurence Navigate Challenges and Triumphs

When Marian Catholic libero Marlie Peterson learned of the storm damage to the Chicago Heights school’s gym, she was heartbroken. The August 11 storm left the gym unusable until December, forcing the girls volleyball team to play all their matches on the road. “Jade and I actually started crying,” Peterson admitted, referring to her fellow senior, Jade Craft. “We were very upset. We waited so long for this season and then found out we couldn’t have any home games.”

Kennedy Hylton, a middle hitter and one of the three senior players for the Spartans, shared her disappointment. “We feed off the energy of our home fans, so it’s been hard on us,” Hylton noted. “We like it when our crowd backs us up.” Despite the challenges, Marian has continued to compete, as shown by their second-place finish in the bronze division of the Spartan Classic at Oak Lawn. Peterson, Craft, and Hylton are all preparing for college, focusing on academics beyond volleyball.

The team’s coach, Julia Glomb, is exploring the possibility of using a smaller gym for an October 13 match against Joliet Catholic. This would allow the seniors to celebrate a proper senior night. “It would mean a lot because it’s something you look forward to,” Peterson remarked. “You are part of a program for four years. You get close to the girls, and it’s a nice celebration.” Craft agreed, expressing her wish to see the event happen, especially since they have been mentoring underclassmen.

Meanwhile, St. Laurence continues its winning streak in regular-season tournaments. The Vikings, who had never won one until their 2024 Spartan Classic victory, have now secured three consecutive titles, including this year’s hard-fought win over Providence. Aubrey Martinez, tournament MVP, has been a part of all these successes. “We love it here,” she stated. “The teams are very talented and make us better.” As a senior outside hitter preparing to join Ball State as a libero, Martinez played a crucial role in St. Laurence’s (17-4) victory.

The Illinois High School Association recently announced its playoff assignments. The competitive Class 4A sectional hosted by Argo includes champions like Marist and Mother McAuley, alongside Spartan Classic winner St. Laurence and Lyons, the latter having won the Wheaton Classic. Despite previous losses to Marist and Mother McAuley, Martinez remains optimistic. “We’re building to get better,” she said. “We played them at the beginning of the season. If we meet them again, we’ll be ready.” She emphasizes the team’s determination: “We’re not letting it go without a fight.”

Jeff Vorva reports for the Daily Southtown.