Hot gym.
Hot rivalry.
It was all getting to Mother McAuley hitter Sydney Buchanan a little bit.
So, during crunch time, she pounded kill after kill in the second set and the Mighty Macs took a 26-24, 25-23 road victory over Marist on Sept. 26 in a neighborhood rivalry game in a packed gym that was getting toastier by the minute.
“It was getting a little hot in the gym, and I said, ‘We gotta finish this’ ’’ Buchanan said. “We had to play with all of our heart because this is a very special game.
“The two seasons I was here we lost so I said we’re winning this game. There was definitely more urgency to finish this because they were probably going to come back.”
Even though the Mighty Macs lost the regular-season matchup the past two seasons, they more than made up for it by beating Marist in the sectional final in 2022 and beating the RedHawks in the Asics Tournament and sectional final in 2023.
There is a chance the rivals will meet again at this year’s Asics Tournament, which takes place Oct. 4-5 at Mother McAuley. Some of the best teams in the state and nation will be on hand for the event.
Buchanan had 11 kills for McAuley (16-2) against the RedHawks (16-4) including eight in the second set. She also sparkled on defense with seven digs.
Mary Claire Deacy had five kills, Abbey Williams had four kills and seven digs. Setter Peyton Heatherly had 19 assists and Lucy Maloney came up with 12 digs.
Marist’s Savanah Weathers had eight kills and five blocks while Cassidy Cage had five kills and five blocks.
Marist’s Bella Bullington could be returning from an injury this week. Photo by Jeff Vorva
The Redhawks were missing Northwestern commit Bella Bullington, who has been nursing an oblique injury but could be back for the Asics Tournament.
Marist coach Jordan Vidovic said that in Bullington’s absence, other players stepped up.
“That was the fun part,” he said. “People step up and take bigger roles and bigger responsibilities. They did a good job of that.”
Vales to stay with girls
Sandburg boys and girls volleyball coach David Vales has decided to give up the boys gig but said he will stay on with the girls.
“It was getting to be too much doing both teams,” he said. “So, I can focus in and give all my attention to the girls program.”
Vales, who has overcome recent health issues, has coached the girls team since 2007 and has more than 460 wins. He coached the boys from 2002-2009 and 2016-2023 with more than 400 wins.
Former Lyons standout Madisen Babich will take over the boys program in the spring. She was a four-year starter for the Lions. She was a student-assistant coach at Sandburg and also a coach at Nazareth.
Rivalry results
A look at the past three seasons of the Marist-Mother McAuley rivalry:
Date Winner Score
Sept. 22, 2022 – Marist 25-22, 25-19
Nov. 2, 2022 – McAuley 29-31, 25-12 25-11*
Sept. 21, 2023 — Marist 25-20, 24-26, 25-16
Sept. 30, 2023 — McAuley 25-27, 25-22, 25-14
Nov. 1, 2023 – McAuley 25-11, 25-19 *
Sept. 26, 2024 – McAuley 26-24, 25-23
*–Sectional final
Mother McAuley’s Sydney Buchanan pounds down the final kill against Marist on Sept. 26. Photo by Jeff Vorva