Mighty Macs Advance To IHSA 4A Girls Volleyball Final, Will Play Benet

CHICAGO — You can put the defibrillator away. Mother McAuley advanced to the IHSA 4A Girls Volleyball State final, scoring a come-from-behind win against a tough St. Charles East High School team Friday at ISU Redbird Stadium.

The Macs lost the first against the Fighting Saints, 27-25, setting the stage for a miraculous comeback. A marathon set point in the second game gave McAuley the win, 25-17, forcing a third set.

Down three late in the third, the Mighty Macs fought back, going on an 8-0 tear against a stunned Fighting Saints team, winning the set 25-20. A jubilant McAuley student section was rocking to Taylor Swift in the stands.

The 37-3 Mighty Macs will face the 36-4 Benet Academy Redwings (Lisle) in the 4A state championship Saturday, Nov. 13. The game will start at approximately 8:55 p.m.

You can watch the game on the NFHS Network (subscription required) or follow the scores on ScoreZone Express and Twitter.

Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School has once again proven that Chicago’s South Side produces the best volleyball players in the city, if not the state. Not to brag or anything, but the Mighty Macs are heading to Illinois State University’s Redbird Stadium for their 34th appearance in the IHSA Girls Volleyball Finals.

Last year, McAuley lost a heartbreaker in the IHSA girls volleyball final to Metea Valley High School, of Aurora, which the Mighty Macs are hoping to reverse in Normal this weekend. In the Catholic girls high school’s impressive volleyball history, McAuley racked up 15 state championships and made 19 additional appearances.

Three members of the 2022-2023 McAuley team follow in their mothers’ championship footsteps as they compete in the state tournament this weekend, including:

• Gigi Navarrete '23, daughter of setter Ellen Navarette '87 Championship Team; Gigi was named to the AVCA Girls High School All-America First Team. She is committed and signed at Northwestern University, where she will be playing Big 10 volleyball.
• Georgia Lausch '23, daughter of middle blocker Mary Lausch '87 Championship Team.
• Ellie “The Killer” White '24, daughter of outside hitter Colleen White '92 Championship Team; verbally committed to University of Michigan volleyball. FYI, Ellie has racked up over 1,000 kills in her McAuley volleyball career.

Current McAuley Head Coach Jen DeJarld '85, won state volleyball championships as a McAuley student athlete in 1984 and 1985. This DeJarld’s 17th years as head coach, and 27th season of coaching, accumulating:

• 2 championships
• 2 second place finishes
• 3 third place finishes

And we would be remiss if we did not mention McAuley's loyal student section — the seventh player on the court — who bring some serious fandom to the games. They pose a formidable presence in the stands with their crazy themes.