The Marist girls volleyball team protected their IHSA 4A state championship in November, using team chemistry and challenges from their relentless schedule to win when it mattered most.

A key factor in their late season success came early in the season with a trip to the 64-team Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas for a second straight year. The tournament is widely considered to be the top high school volleyball event in the nation. The experience of playing the best teams that early on set the tone for the rest of the year.

“It prepared us because we were playing the best teams around the country and competing at the highest level,” said junior outside hitter and Western Michigan commit Taylor Berg. “That gave us confidence for the rest of the season.”

The momentum built in Vegas carried into the regular season, but it was not without challenges. A key point in the season was a tough, close, loss to powerhouse Benet Academy, which exposed areas the team needed to improve. Instead of letting the loss define them, the team stayed composed and used it as motivation.

“That game was definitely one of our turning points because it showed us that we need to work 10 times harder to show up in the playoffs,” said senior middle and Coastal Carolina lacrosse commit Tessa Dowling. “It really pushed us to be better.”

By the time playoffs began, the RedHawks were playing their best volleyball of the season. The team cruised through regionals all the way to a rematch versus arch rival Mother McAuley in the sectional finals. The matchup is always a big one, but Marist had already suffered a heartbreaking three set defeat to the Macs in the regular season. This made the rematch feel personal, with the team feeling like they had something to prove. 

“Even though we lost to them in the regular season, we beat them when it actually mattered,” said Dowling.

That huge sectional win gave the team momentum that carried them through the super-sectional final and into the state semifinal. This set up a rematch with Benet in the state championship. After falling to them earlier, the RedHawks were determined to finish the job.

From the first serve of the game, Marist brought a level of energy that filled the entire arena. This was fueled by a loud and relentless student section that made the trip with the team down state. The RedHawks fed off that energy, playing with grit and intensity from start to finish. The team stayed composed under pressure and never let mistakes compound.

“It felt really good to see that our hard work and dedication showed in the game,” said Berg. “All of the preparation we put in before hand like watching film and scouting the other team truly paid off.”

In the end, Marist once again flipped the script when it mattered most, defeating a conference rival on the biggest stage to secure back-to-back state championships.

“It felt good to prove others wrong again,” said Dowling. “Winning again just proved that all the work we put in was rewarded.”