A new season brought new faces to an old rivalry, but the results are the same.
McKenzie Moorman spiked 18 kills and had four blocks and Margaret Planek added 12 kills as the Fenwick High School girls volleyball team knocked off neighborhood rival Trinity 25-18, 19-25, 25-16 on Sept. 15 in Oak Park.
“It’s a nice rivalry,” Fenwick coach Kathleen O’Laughlin said. “It was definitely a fun match and we had a nice student section.”
Much has changed for Fenwick since the historic 2015 season ended with a Class 3A supersectional loss to Marian Central. It was just the second time the Friars had won a sectional championship.
Ten players from that team, which eliminated Trinity in the regional final, graduated, but the Friars have picked up where they left off.
While not as experienced or as deep as a year ago, Fenwick does have four returning starters, including 6-foot outside hitters Moorman, a sophomore, and Planek, a junior.
Those two combined with senior setter Mary Marzo to defeat a determined Trinity defense.
“Trinity is a very good team,” O’Laughlin said. “They play very tough defense, so it’s tough to put the ball down on them.”
But Moorman and Planek found a way.
“McKenzie Moorman had a huge night,” O’Laughlin said. “She doesn’t play like a sophomore. She’s just a really talented player and already has varsity experience.”
But not as much as the 5-8 Marzo, who has been up on varsity since her freshman year. Marzo, who is being recruited by college coaches from all levels, is the linchpin of Fenwick’s offense.
“I think (Marzo) did a good job of sizing up the (Trinity) defense and finding the smaller blockers so (Moorman) could take advantage of it,” O’Laughlin said. “When you have a senior setter who knows how the other players like to play, that’s an advantage.”
Senior libero Katie McAllister chipped in four aces for the Friars (9-3), who actually have a better record at this point of the season than they did last year.
“The girls last year left the program better than they found it,” O’Laughlin said. “I think these girls are going to pick right up and run with it.”
That will require some new players to take on a bigger role. One is junior middle hitter Liz Stehlik, who plays with intelligence at the net, and senior middle hitter Erin Lattner.
“(Lattner) is a great kid and she’s doing a nice job,” O’Laughlin said. “The system of the offense is kind of new to her but she’s picking it up quickly.”
While it is too early to tell if the Friars have the ability to make another deep playoff run, they have every intention of repeating last year’s feat.
“(The Friars) had a few more losses at this point last year, but there are so many new faces out there this year I don’t know what (to expect from the opposition),” O’Laughlin said. “We’re trying to take it one match at a time and prepare for the end of the season.
Trinity
Off to a 3-8 start this season, the Blazers hope to snap their five-match losing streak this week with matches against Bishop McNamara and Resurrection before competing in the Harvest Tournament on Saturday.
Despite a slow start, Trinity has the talent to turn things around. The Blazers finished 19-18 overall and 4-2 in the GCAC (Girls Catholic Athletic Conference) White Division last season.
The team’s top returning players include senior outside hitters Carly Uhlir and Sarah Whiteside and senior middle hitter Natalie Rosinski.
Uhlir, the daughter of head coach Ken Uhlir, had 165 kills, 22 aces and 121 digs as a GCAC White all-conference player in 2015.
Fellow seniors Casey Knusta, Carmen Peterson and Molly Gates bring additional talent and experience to the roster, while highly touted freshman Emma Jacobs, a 6-0 outside hitter, has made an immediate impact for Trinity.