Grant Park Volleyball Beats MCC Academy to Reach Sectional Final

Residents of Cook County who follow high school athletics saw the Grant Park volleyball program reach the IHSA Class 1A Aurora Christian Sectional final on Tuesday. The Dragons defeated MCC Academy 25-17 and 25-19 to secure a spot in the championship match. This victory extends Grant Park's current winning streak to 20 games.

The win marks a return to familiar territory for the program, which has claimed nine regional titles in its history. For this specific group of players, the sectional round was new ground. The team's last regional title was won when the current seniors were in eighth grade. Now, the Dragons aim to capture their third sectional championship, having previously won in 1986 and 2022.

Senior Adelyn Karstensen described the team's growth throughout the season. She noted that the start was difficult but the squad improved over time. “What I’m looking forward to most is showing what we’re made of,” Karstensen said. “Early this season, we didn’t start off the best. I think later on we’ve grown as a team, shown what we’re going to bring to the future and what we’re capable of.”

Karstensen recorded three aces and two kills in the match. She finished with a .200 hitting percentage, trailing only Makenna Wells, who hit for a .300 average. Taylor Panozzo contributed three kills and an ace. The team had previously dominated the regional round, winning all six sets without trailing to take the title.

The match against MCC Academy presented more resistance than the regional final. Grant Park did not trail in the first set, but the second set was closer. The score was tied four times before the Dragons took an 11-10 lead. The lead expanded to 18-12, though MCC Academy cut the deficit to 20-19 late in the set. Grant Park answered with a five-point run to close out the game.

Coach Caitlin Meyer emphasized the importance of enjoying the game and executing small details. She acknowledged that some moments faltered during the match but was pleased with how the team finished. “Something we’ve talked about all season long is just having fun when we’re playing, playing as a team and focusing on doing some of those little things right,” Meyer said. “I would say tonight we definitely had some moments where those started to kind of falter, but thankfully the girls were able to pick back up for the end and get their job done in two, which I was really happy about.”

The other semifinal featured Schaumburg Christian, which defeated Gardner-South Wilmington 25-16 and 25-20. This result prevented a potential River Valley Conference rematch for Grant Park. The Panthers lost the opening set 25-16 but fought back in the second. They tied the score 11-11 and led at times, but a seven-point run by Schaumburg Christian sealed the victory.

Gardner-South Wilmington coach Heather Muzzarelli expressed pride in her team's effort despite the loss. The Panthers had just earned their third regional title in program history, the first since 2016. Muzzarelli described the season as a roller coaster that included both six-match losing and five-match winning streaks. “We had one of the most roller coaster seasons that we could possibly have,” she said. “But they showed up and showed out at the right times. They got the first regional championship that Gardner has seen in 10 years, so I told them there’s nothing to hang their heads over.”

The senior class at Gardner-South Wilmington includes Abby Galass, Liv Siano, Abbie Olsen, Grace Vitko, Jo Male, and Jyde Schweitzer. The team went 11-22 as freshmen and 14-17 as sophomores. Under Muzzarelli, the program has improved, finishing 20-17 and 21-17 in the last two seasons. Muzzarelli noted that the players enjoyed playing and fought until the end of the match.

Grant Park will face Schaumburg Christian at 6 p.m. Thursday for the sectional title. The Dragons currently hold a 27-8 record. The championship match will determine which team advances to the regional tournament.