Bringing the IHSA 4A Volleyball State Championship trophy home to MacNation!

On Saturday night, the storied athletic tradition at Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School added another state championship to their program history, becoming 2022 IHSA Class 4A State Champions. The Mighty Macs, the only all girls high school to make the state finals, defeated the Benet Academy Redwings in three sets to claim the state title. This state championship is the 16th in program history and third under the current head coach.

This morning, Mother McAuley hosted a recognition rally to celebrate the team's accomplishments this season. Escorted by members of the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department, the state champions marched across campus and onto the newly installed athletic turf field, where the student body, teachers, administrators, parents, and community members cheered and offered their congratulations.

The 2022-2023 Season Girls Varsity Volleyball team is no stranger to post-season play and state championships. In fact, three members of the team follow in their mother's championship footsteps. Gigi Navarrete '23 is the daughter of setter Ellen Monson Navarrete '88 Championship Team, a member of the AVCA Girls High School All-America First Team and committed to continue her career at Northwestern University. Georgia Lausch '23 is the daughter of middle blocker Mary McNulty Lausch '87 Championship Team. Ellie White '24 is the daughter of outside hitter Colleen Quinlan White '92 Championship Team and has verbally committed to the University of Michigan.

Mother McAuley's President Carey Temple Harrington '86 and Principal Dr. Katie Baal welcomed the crowd, shared their congratulations with the team and their families, and thanked the student body for their unwavering support. MacNation sent 8 student buses down to the state tournament over the weekend, which were generously offset by the McAuley community. The student body filled four sections at RedBird Arena in support of their peers on the court. 

Head Coach and former player Jen Rees DeJarld '87 addressed the crowd and spoke directly to MacNation, one of the state's best student sections. DeJarld expressed her gratitude to the students who supported the team from the first game of the season to the state championship, often picking the team up through their cheers when the team needed to rally from behind. Team captains, Gigi Navarrete '23 and Olivia Klapp '23, echoed the gratitude to their peers, parents, and the entire McAuley community. 

Joining the McAuley community this morning were Alderman Matt O'Shea, 19th Ward; State Representative and McAuley alumna Fran Hurley '78, 35th District; and Mayor Kelly Burke, Village of Evergreen Park.