McAuley Jumps For Joy Celebrating Back-To-Back State Championships

CHICAGO — Somewhere there are little girls on the South Side dreaming about joining the Mother McAuley High School volleyball team after the Mighty Macs won the IHSA 4A state championship in Bloomington-Normal Saturday night.

McAuley students celebrate pulling off back-to-back state championships.

Students celebrated their back-to-back state championships with an early morning rally Monday hoisting the state championship trophy before putting it into the trophy chase next to the 16 other state championship trophies.

McAuley state volleyball champs at an all-school recognition assembly

This was Mother McAuley’s third trip to the IHSA finals in as many years. The Mighty Macs were second in state in 2021, losing to Aurora's Metea Valley. Last season’s theme was “unfinished business when the Mighty Macs faced Benet Academy of Lisle. McAuley clinched its 16th state title, as well as becoming Illinois’s winningest girls volleyball team.

McAuley strikes up the band at a celebratory assembly.

Facing Benet again, the Class 4A matches didn’t get started Saturday until after 10 p.m. McAuley pulled off its second consecutive state championship title, 25-22, 18-25 and 25-16.

The Mighty Macs finished the season overall 35-7.

Drone shot of McAuley celebration.

~Photos courtesy of Mother McAuley High School