UPDATE: Andrew's Caily Friel is Patch MVP

Andrew swimming standout Caily Friel outpolled eight others in voting for Southland Patch's MVP, Nov. 5-11. She is now eligible for Patch Athlete of the Month honors.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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Joey

9:19 am on Friday, November 16, 2012

Football is a TEAM sport, but good luck to LWE!   more ›

4A Volleyball: Mother McAuley Places 3rd in State Tournament

Ryann DeJarld and Courtney Joyce came up big in Mother McAuley's straight-sets victory over Libertyville in the third-place match at the Class 4A state volleyball tournament.

Ryann DeJarld did much of the dirty work at the net. Courtney Joyce distributed the ball. The two combined to lead Mother McAuley in a 25-22, 25-22 victory over Libertyville in the third-place match at the Class 4A state volleyball tournament Saturday in Normal. The Mighty Macs (36-5) were paced by DeJarld's eight kills and eight digs. Kelly Clarke added six kills. Joyce chipped in 22 assists, 12 digs and three kills. Michelle Konecki added 13 digs. Libertyville (34-8) was led by Julia Smagacz's seven kills. Cindy Zhou had 16 assits. The third-place finish for Mother McAuley equaled the Mighty Macs' effort in 2008 Mother McAuley placed second in 2007. Benet Academy defeated New Trier 21-25, 25-22, 25-17 to win the Class 4A state …

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Patch MVP: Vote Up Kelly and Hasan

Thursday is your last day to vote for Patch MVP. McAuley's Kelly Clarke and Richards' Hasan Muhammad-Rogers need a surge.

UPDATE: Mother McAuley's Kelly Clarke is Patch MVP

Mother McAuley volleyball standout Kelly Clarke outpolled nine others in voting for Southland Patch's MVP, Oct. 29-Nov. 4. She is now eilgible for Patch Athlete of the Month honors.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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UPDATE: Oak Forest's Kyle Hullinger is Patch MVP

Oak Forest football standout Kyle Hullinger outpolled 10 others in voting for Southland Patch's MVP, Oct. 22-28. Hullinger is now eligible for Patch Athlete of the Month honors.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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UPDATE: Bloom Township's Justus Brantley is Patch MVP

Bloom Township's Justus Brantley ran wild in the Blazing Trojans' football victory over Fenton. He also stood tall in voting for Patch's MVP, Sept. 9-16. Brantley is now eligible for Patch Athlete of the Month honors.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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Glory Days

Mother McAuley's 1977 Championship Team Paved Way for Future Success

Look what they're doing now: Mighty Macs have won state-best 13 volleyball titles.

Whenever Donna Smith attends a Mother McAuley volleyball match, she never knows who she may bump into from the past. That always puts a smile on her face. “We still have players and parents come back to watch the new teams every year even though they graduated,” said Smith, who coached Mother McAuley’s first state-champion volleyball team in 1977 and is still involved with the program. “Once you’re part of the program, you’re part of it for life," Smith said. "We have a saying that ‘Tradition Never Graduates.’ It’s always great to see people come back from many years ago.” Smith, who was pregnant during the Mighty Macs’ title run, left the program for a couple of years after the championship season. She returned and has been the team’s “…

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Glory Days

Former Coach Donna Smith Had Good Feeling About Mother McAuley's First Volleyball State Championship Team

Standout player Cathy Spencer Moran proud to be part of tradition-rich program's first title in 1977, proud to relive the Glory Days of the Mighty Macs.

When Mother McAuley joined the Illinois High School Association in 1977, volleyball player Cathy Spencer Moran wasn’t quite sure what to expect. That is, until a meeting with Donna Smith, who was the McAuley head coach that season. “She told us we could win state and we believed her,” Moran said. “We wanted to win big-time in our first season.” The Mighty Macs did exactly that in dominating fashion. Mother McAuley capped a perfect 32-0 season by beating Queen of Peace 20-9, 20-3 for the first of what would become many state volleyball championships for the program. “It was a good group of people,” Moran said. “Everyone got along and we just had a blast together. A lot of us hung out together even when we weren’t on the court. Donna (Smith…

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McAuley JV Parents Show Support for Varsity Volleyball

The JV parents were part of a raucous crowd at Mother McAuley's home opener last week.

When Mother McAuley played Joliet Catholic Academy last Thursday, it certainly felt like more was on the line than a season-opening girls volleyball win. McAuley fans--along with a healthy contingent of Joliet Catholic supporters--packed the gym in a show of support for both teams. Some of McAuley's most ardent supporters were parents of the junior varsity players. Parents Judy Phelan, Mary Ennis, Peg Meyer and Jean Geary were all in attendance watching as McAuley fell in a three-set thriller. Maybe next year they will be watching their own daughters play in McAuley's varsity season-opener.

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