Sports

No. 1: Mother McAuley Starts On Top of Girls Volleyball Heap

Powell, Mighty Macs rate No. 1 in Patch Power rankings heading into season-opener tonight vs. Joliet Catholic Academy. Zielinski injury clouds picture at Marist.

1. Mother McAuley: For the Mighty Macs, it starts with defense. And few can match the play of senior libero Bridget Powell in that area. Powell will be tested in Mother McAuley’s opener today vs. Joliet Catholic Academy. How many times can she dig up the ball and sustain a rally?

2. Marist: Six-four senior middle Lauren Zielinski is recovering from right shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. In her absence, the RedHawks will turn to junior outside hitter Mallory Salis for firepower. Marist is looking to build off a 37-3 season that included a postseason victory over rival Mother McAuley.

3. Sandburg: Until somebody knocks them off their perch, the Eagles will continue to rule the roost in the Southwest Suburban Blue. Dakota Hampton & company built momentum for another regular-season surge with a first-place finish in summer league play at Palos Courts.

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4. Chicago Christian: All the pieces are in place here. Chicago Christian returns five starters from a team that posted a 30-11 record and won the Class 2A state championship. Becky DeRuiter, a 6-1 middle blocker, heads the list. She led the Knights in kills and blocks a year ago.

5. Lincoln-Way North: Coach Mary Brown will be working with a number of newcomers as the Phoenix look to build on a school-best 22-13-1 finish. And “new” is a good thing here. North could be ready for a breakout season.

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Next best (in alphabetical order): Andrew, Bloom Township, Lincoln-Way East, Marian Catholic, Providence.

(Covering the following Patch communities: Chicago Heights, Evergreen Park, Frankfort, Homewood-Flossmoor, Mokena, New Lenox, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Palos, Tinley Park and the neighboring private schools that draw students from those communities).


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