Two of a Kind For JCA Volleyball

As outside hitters last fall for a Joliet Catholic Academy girls volleyball team that advanced to a third straight Class 3A state championship match, Kelly Feigh and Morgan Reardon became fast friends.

That relationship continued during the winter and into the spring as Feigh, a senior-to-be, played club for Uno’s 17-Elite team and Reardon, a junior-to-be, was an All-American for Uno’s 16-Elite team.

Much like a college picking up a pitcher and a catcher in baseball or softball from the same high school, Loyola University started to recruit the pair in earnest. And when they both finally committed?

It was news to them.

“Neither of us talked about it, that we were going to go there or not go there,” Feigh said. “I knew they were looking at me and they were looking at her, too. But we never put two and two together.”

“I came to practice one day and I said to Kelly, ‘I committed to Loyola,’” Reardon recalled. “And she was like, ‘Oh, really … so did I.’ We didn’t know about it, but we actually committed on the same day.”

Due to returnees like Feigh and Reardon, one and the same will be part of JCA’s theme as the Angels attempt to improve upon a 34-8 record that produced the program’s sixth state trophy in eight seasons.

The 5-foot-11 Feigh, a Plainfield resident, led JCA with 315 kills last year and contributed 244 points (33 aces), 321 digs, 29 block kills and a 2.29 serve-receive rating. The daughter of Jim and Denise, she was an all-conference and all-area selection and the MVP of the prestigious Mizuno Cup tournament.

“I liked how, with Loyola, it’s not far from home,” said Feigh, who carries a 4.78 grade-point average. “It’s far enough, but it’s close enough that my mom and dad can come watch me play. That was a big thing for them. And it’s also a very good academic school. That’s something else that sold it for me.”

“Kelly has shown growth as being that leader on the floor,” JCA coach Christine Scheibe said. “Last year she let the seniors lead. She also has worked on developing the mental part of her game, getting that to be more consistent, and that will be a benefit to her and our team in tough situations.”

The 5-11 Reardon, meanwhile, excelled as a sophomore on the varsity with 278 kills, 145 points (17 aces), 249 digs and 37 block kills. The daughter of Mike and Sherri, the Joliet native was named all-area and, along with Feigh, tabbed as honorable mention all-state by the Champaign News-Gazette.

“If you look at Morgan, she has all the physical tools necessary,” Scheibe said. “But just like Kelly, she’s not going to be the young girl on the floor anymore. She has a year of varsity experience under her belt, and being that standout player and leader in club should carry over to us.”

“I liked Loyola because while I kind of wanted to be away from my family, I also wanted it to be close enough to go home,” Reardon said. “It’s a great school, they’re bringing in a bunch of good girls like Kelly, and I think that it’s going to be a pretty bomb squad.”

Note to Ramblers for future promotional brochures: call them The Bomb Squad. But just like “bomb” in this case is a positive adjective, Feigh and Reardon pointed to the impact of JCA’s dramatic success since winning its first state volleyball title in 2003 on their collegiate recruiting and development as players.

“I think it has helped me a lot with the winning side of it because I am a person who hates, just hates, losing,” Feigh said. “I always look forward to the high school season because it’s such a different environment. It’s more of a homey feel, and the No. 1 goal is to win the state championship.”

“You’re playing on the big stage here,” Reardon noted. “Everybody is really good, and it’s a great opportunity for people to see us because we play a great schedule against great teams. It has helped me gain a lot more confidence, and you know it’s going to be tough, but it’s going to be fun.”

With a run that featured back-to-back state titles in 2008 and 2009, Scheibe has coached over two dozen players who have received college scholarships. While Feigh and Reardon are the next Angels in line for the November signing day, Scheibe preferred to highlight the intangible attributes as well.

“First of all, Loyola is definitely getting two great girls who complement each other on the outside,” said Scheibe, who has a 351-77-9 record entering her 12th season. “You’re talking about two girls who get along so well, they have developed together, and I would expect that to continue in college.”