DePaul Prep Takes Fourth Place in 3A Volleyball State Finals

[Preview of my story this week in Inside—Booster.]

By Jack Lydon

The DePaul Prep Rams (37-5) fell to the Prairie Ridge Wolves (38-3) in the IHSA 3A State third-place game Saturday afternoon in Normal. The Wolves edged the Rams in two sets, 22-25 and 23-25. The fourth-place finish in the State Finals is still the farthest that any DePaul Prep or Gordon Tech team has achieved in volleyball.

Despite going back and forth the whole way, DePaul Prep could not get more than a one-point lead at any point. Although the Rams were more at ease than they were in the semi-final, it came down to Prairie Ridge’s excellent play handling the Rams’ hits.

“It was tough. We wanted to protect the serve so anytime we got the ball back we wanted to keep the serve on our side. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Playing at this level, you know it’s going to be competitive volleyball. We just didn’t make that change quick enough,” said DePaul Prep head coach Caroline Gajzler.

DePaul’s semi-final match against Mahomet-Seymour was not much different. The Rams were right with the Bulldogs but a five-point run midway through the first set lifted the Bulldogs to a 25-18 first set. The Rams rallied bringing back to two but Mahomet pulled away slowly as the first set continued. In the second set of Friday’s semi-final, the Rams cleaned up their service errors but just couldn’t put together a run to overtake the Bulldogs.

Of the semi-final loss, DePaul Prep head coach Caroline Gajzler said, “Ultimately, we fell short in playing the game that we’ve been playing. A few back-to-back hitting errors here and there. Some missed connections with our setters.

“[Mahomet-Seymour, eventual 3A state champion] was definitely one of the most competitive teams that we have played this season. They played very clean tonight. They ran down most of the balls, most of the touches.”

The fourth-place finish was a little bittersweet for the DePaul Prep. The Rams definitely believed they could win. The bar is high at DePaul Prep. In just the past few years, the Rams have back-to-back state championships in boys’ basketball, a state championship and a second-place finish in boys and girls cross-country respectively and fourth place finish in baseball.

“Gratitude. Grateful. An honor to be these girls’ coach. The school has only been in existence for ten years and it goes back to Gordon Tech. To be a part of history, I am really blessed. I love these girls not only as athletes but as human beings. I am grateful to be part of their story. I can’t wait to see what the rest has for them. I am just really grateful to have the experience of being here,” Coach Gajzler said.

The 37-5 season for the Rams was the culmination for a four-year process for the team and the coaches.

“It feels surreal. Ever since we got here freshman year, it was always something that seemed so far our of reach. But this year and last year, it was finally attainable. And the fact that we got this far and beat a lot of teams that we worked really hard to beat to get here. All that really paid off,” said senior hitter Amira Boone.

“Our senior class said this is our year, this is our season. All of our programs are excelling. What we all worked for for four years is all coming together,” said senior Layla Christian.

“We called this our unicorn season. Taking eighteen on a roster we knew it was going to be something special. We just talked about it in the locker room. Being GCAC White champions, two-time tournament champions, regional champions, sectional champions, super-sectional champions, first time coming downstate, so the entire season has kind of been this high. Hard work paying off, these girls trusting the process, believing the coaching staff, and really stepping up their game and growing throughout four years. It’s really neat to be a part of that process.

“Everyone wanted it so bad. I am so proud of this team and how far we have come,” said senior Katie Syftestad.

DePaul Prep Volleyball Going to State; Defeats St. Laurence

DePaul Prep girls’ volleyball team defeated St. Laurence in three sets, 21-25, 25-15, 25-21, in tonight’s IHSA 3A Super-sectional at Hinsdale South high school. Rams advance to the state championship tournament Friday and Saturday at the CEFCU Arena, (formerly known as Redbird Arena), in Normal.

The Rams improve their remarkable record to 37-3 and avenge their October 3rd loss at the hands of St. Laurence. St. Laurence may be the best team that DePaul Prep has faced this season. Hinsdale South was full of loud Ram and Viking fans. Easily the most exciting volleyball match that I have attended.

The Rams dropped the first set after falling behind early. They fought but could not get all the way back and dropped the first set 21-25. They don’t get down. They believe in themselves. They showed it after falling behind in the first set in the St. Ignatius match and then battling back to win.

In the second set, the Rams grabbed and early lead and built on it in typical fashion ultimately winning 25-15.

The third set was very stressful. Back and forth. After being tied at 16, the Rams built a small lead and took the match 25-21 in the third set.

Still another state tournament for DePaul Prep.

The Rams will face the Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs (37-3) on Friday at 4:00 p.m., in the 3A semi-final. The Rams and Bulldogs had no common opponents this year. The Bulldogs lost to Champaign Central (3A) and Normal West (4A) in September and Effingham (3A) on October 17th. Mahomet-Seymour high school is located in Mahomet, Illinois, which is about 12 miles northwest of Champaign.

The other 3A semi-final will feature Prairie Ridge from Crystal Lake and Limestone from Bartonville.

DePaul Prep Defeats St. Ignatius to Win 3A Sectional

It didn’t look good for the Rams midway through the first set when they were down 18-12. Then, slowly at first, they cut the margin to 22-17. Then the Rams charged back outscoring the Wolfpack 7-1, taking the first set 25-23.

The second set saw the more typical Rams play—steady building a lead. They took the Wolfpack 25-16 in the second set and the match. A 3A Sectional final match and advance to the Super-sectional on Monday. One game away from the State Tournament.

The Wolfpack are an excellent volleyball team. Every bit the equal of the Rams. Ignatius returned most of their team from last’s 3A third-place finishers. It was the Wolfpack that ended the Rams’ season last year in the Sectional semi-final. The Rams have been working toward this win all year. Even so, the Wolfpack seemed a little shellshocked by the Rams’ first set comeback.

The did not get down; they came back and won. This just might be the Rams’ year. The Rams have a remarkable 36-3 record this year. But one the three losses came at St. Laurence on October 3rd in three sets.

St. Laurence is next. The Super-sectional is Monday evening at Hinsdale South high school. With the St. Ignatius defeat avenged, there is another defeat to take care of on Monday.

As for the photos, I went a little crazy. I shot 2987 photos. I picked out 109 to process. I ended up only working up 40. I wanted to get as many as I could knowing this would be a historic game between two of the top teams in the state.

The light is always challenging in the Gentile Gym. Very yellow non-LED lights. I spoke to St. Ignatius AD Mike Hurley about it. I told him that he could not be outdone by DePaul Prep AD Pat Mahoney who just bought new LED lights for the Tom Winiecki Gym which will be installed before the basketball season. Hurley smiled and said nothing about getting new lights. My personal crusade to improve the lights in Catholic Leagues gyms still has a way to go.

I hope you like the photos.

DePaul Prep Defeats ITW Speer in Regional Semi-final

Frankly, it wasn’t close. Speer had seven players and were no match of this season’s DePaul Prep Rams girls volleyball squad with eighteen players who can all play well.

I kind of knew it would be this way so I thought I would concentrate on getting shots from above. They turned out pretty well. I had to push the ISO higher than I like to get the exposure I wanted.

The shots from above are okay. They work well from kill shots. I have to hand it to Shae Griffith for inspiring me to get these shots. I took them from the North side of the Tom Winiecki Gym so I could get the players’ faces.

The exposure of the photos is darker than I usually do. I am going to leave them and see how I like the darker shots in a few days or a week.

All the photos were taken from the same place. I don’t usually do that. I think the spot was good but I feel like I want to try a little higher up.

I was sitting among the volleyball parents so I hope I was not causing too much distraction from the match. But hey, it’s all about getting the shot, right?

DePaul Prep Volleyball Defeats Fenwick in Straight Set

The DePaul Prep girls volleyball team continues its winning ways improving to 12 and 1. The Rams handled the Friars in straight sets.

That’s not all. This was head coach Caroline Gajzler’s 100th win as a head coach. 100 wins in just five years as a head coach. It’s a remarkable accomplishment. Well done coach.

DePaul Prep Defeats Rosary in Two Sets; Improves to 6-0

The DePaul Prep Rams women’s volleyball team handled Rosary Tuesday evening at the Tom Winiecki Gym in two sets. The Rams have improved to 6-0 on the year and 1-0 in the GCAC.

Maybe the Rams were just taking care of business. Just going through the matches on the schedule. They were playing within themselves. Doing what they do.

But maybe, just maybe, it was more. The were down two of the best players, Ava Wilson and Maisy Erlenbaugh, who were out sick. Now it’s true that Rosary is a little down this year with a 3-8 record. But the Royals did beat the Rams last year.

Maybe this is a unique and special Rams squad that is working into an historic season. We won’t know for a while. There are still 29 matches to play and very good squads. (I originally wrote thirteen but I left out tournaments.)

But maybe. Just saying.

DePaul Prep Edges Lane in Volleyball Match

The DePaul Prep Rams girls volleyball team edged Lane Tech 2-1 in an early season rivalry game. The Rams move to 3-0 on the season with wins over Lincoln Park, Wheaton Academy and Lane Tech.

The Lane Tech Champions have a very talented squad, including standout freshman Sophia Polec.

The Rams took control of the first set early and handled the Champions. But there was no quit in the Champions. Despite falling well behind early in the second set, the Champions rallied late and took the set.

“They came out really competitive and they are always hungry to beat us; they are a rival. They definitely were the most aggressive team serve-wize that we have faced this season. That’s the hardest that we have had serves coming at us in a match so far this season. We had to adjust our back row,” said DePaul Prep head coach Caroline Gajzler.

Adjust they did. The Rams jumped out the their customary quick start and held off the talented Champions to take the final set 25-20.

“This is the strongest start that we have had in five years,” said Gajzler. “I told the girls that the sky is the limit for them. We have a lot of starters back from last year. We have 11 seniors on this team. I have never had this big of a roster—18. We are very deep on our bench. They are all very deserving of a spot on this team.”

It’s early in the season. Still tons of volleyball to play. But it’s a short season. IHSA playoffs in mid-October. Stay tuned.

DePaul Prep Drops Wheaton Academy in Straight Set, 25-17, 25-16

The DePaul Prep Rams girls volleyball team defeated Wheaton Academy in straight sets, 25-17 and 25-16, last evening at DePaul’s Tom Winiecki Gym. The Rams were in control from the start and looked every part of a championship team but I am getting ahead of myself.

Head coach Caroline Gajzler and her staff have the Rams playing at a high level early this season helped by a very deep bench. It looks like every player on the team could start.

As for the photos, I think the ISO was too high. One does not get a good feel for that in the camera’s small electronic viewfinder. 8000 was too much. I ended up having to use the noise reduction. It’s good but makes the photos are little too cartoonish. Don’t worry, I will get it dialed in.

DePaul Prep Falls to St. Ignatius in Sectional

Preview of my story this week in Inside Publications:

The DePaul Prep girls’ varsity volleyball team fell to the St. Ignatius Wolfpack on Monday in the IHSA 3A sectional semifinal at St. Ignatius. A large crowd filled the St. Ignatius Gentile Gymnasium for the match. This high-level volleyball was action packed. The teams were never separated by more than five points in either match. The Wolfpack were just that little bit better at defending the attacks by the Rams. Ignatius topped the Rams in two sets, 25-20 and 25-22.

The Rams and their fourth-year head coach Caroline Gajzler came into the sectional fresh off their first regional since Gajzler took over the program four years ago. Gajzler, an assistant athletic director at DePaul Prep and former physical education teacher, was gracious, if not clearly disappointed after the game.

“Kudos to St. Ignatius. They played a hell of a game. They are very scrappy, in terms of defense. [St. Ignatius sophomore Skyler Greene] #10 on the right side gave us issues the entire match. Congratulations to them. On our side, we broke down in our serve and passing games. In the first set, we missed four serves and we were not passing like in our typical game,” Gajzler said.

“We started off the season inconsistent in our match play. We were having difficulty finding the court offensively. Throughout the season our attackers found consistency. Our back row found consistency. With that our confidence grew. We found a good line up that was meshing well together. And then we won some big matches. That really gave us the confidence boost,” Gajzler continued.

Rams’ “libero’ senior Charlotte Collins was a leader on the Rams squad.

“This was our best season yet. We finally clicked as a team. Everyone really wanted it this year,” Collins said after the game. Collins noted the improvement of the Rams squad from last year.

“We really found our rhythm. We learned how to play with each other and connect. Our setters connected with our hitters better. And just effort. We stepped up the game. We wanted to go farther this year and we did,” Collins said.

“Having a bond with everyone and being able to trust your teammates is just so important. If you don’t have that, everyone can be amazing on the team, but if there is no trust and support, then you can’t do anything,” Collins continued.

It was a successful season for the Rams; a 29-9 record with a thirteen-match win streak going it the St. Ignatius sectional match. With the dramatic increase in enrollment at DePaul Prep, the Rams moved up from 2A to 3A in the IHSA four level volleyball classification system. This actually helped the Rams advance through the regional finals. They did not have to face powerhouse teams like IC Catholic and Timothy Christian that defeated them in recent years.

Last weeks’ regional championship over North Grand at Prosser was a milestone for Gajzler with her first regional championship. Last year Gajzler’s Rams suffered an emotional close loss to powerhouse IC Catholic in the regional championship at DePaul. Before that was the lost COVID year with no playoffs. Before that was another close lose to powerhouse Timothy Christian in a regional final.

St. Ignatius went on to advance to the State Finals in Bloomington this coming weekend with wins in the sectional final over DeLaSalle and St. Lawrence in the Super-sectional, both teams that DePaul Prep beat in the regular season.

DePaul Prep Wins IHSA 3A Regional with Victory over North Grand

The DePaul Prep girls’ varsity volleyball team defeated North Grand high school in the IHSA 3A Prosser Regional on Thursday evening in straight sets, 25-9 and 25-4. The Rams finish the year with a record of 27-8 and 4-2 in the GCAC, with a ten-game win streak at the end of the season.

The eleventh seed North Grand Eagle Owls, with an overall record of 8-10 and 4-5 in conference, came in a little overmatched against third seed DePaul Prep. The Rams took the match in straight sets, 25-9 and 25-4.

This was the first IHSA Regional title for Rams’ head coach Coach Gajzler in her four years at DePaul Prep.

“We took over the program four years ago. There wasn’t much built in terms of a system or a culture or a program. The past four years we have just been focused on building a program and sustainability,” said a beeming Coach Gajzler after the match.

“I remember Bobby [Hughes] telling me that it is a real testament when your first freshman become seniors and that is this group. We have had them for four years. They only know Coach Hughes and I.”

The DePaul Prep volleyball program is on its way. With fifty-four girls in the program at all levels, volleyball is emerging as a powerhouse at DePaul and in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference.

“We are ready for the challenge of moving up from 2A to 3A. I packed our schedule this year. Our schedule was very competitive from start to finish,” said Gajzler.

“Starting with ICC, we had three crossover matches into the GCAC Red [Division]. We are the only White [Division] team that played three cross over matches into the Red. Obviously, we won two of the three with St. Laurence and DeLaSalle. That gave us the confidence going into the playoffs.”

This is the third regional title in girls’ volleyball for DePaul Prep. The previous years were 2017-18 and 2018-19. Gordon Tech won regionals in 2007-08, 2008-09, 2011-12 (my daughter Mary’s senior year) and 2013-14.

DePaul Prep has never won a sectional championship. Now is the chance. The Rams will face St. Ignatius on Monday at St. Ignatius at 7:00 p.m.

The Rams come into the Sectionals as the number 3 seed behind DeLaSalle #1 seed and St. Ignatius #2 seed. The Meteors and the Wolfpack are also GCAC members, both in the Red Division and come into the Sectional finals with records of 26-7 and 22-9 respectively. The Rams defeated DeLaSalle in three sets on October 10th. The Rams have not played the Wolfpack this season.

DePaul Prep Volleyball Handles Latin 2-0 on Senior Night

The DePaul Prep volleyball team handled Latin in two sets at Thursday’s Senior night at DePaul Prep.

A huge crowd packed the Tom Winiecki Gym where seniors Charlotte Collins, Maeve Hudson, Haley Pitcock, Maggie Edmonds and Jessica Meier were honored and escorted into the gym by their parents before the match.

The seniors all started the game jumping out to an early lead on the Latin Romans never to look back. The Rams lead the Romans in both sets.

The Rams move on to this weekend’s Lake Forest Invitation and come home next Tuesday for a big match against GCAC rival DeLaSalle. DeSalle has the number one seed in the St. Ignatius sectional in the upcoming IHSA 3A volleyball playoffs.

DePaul Prep Defeats St. Laurence in Varsity Volleyball Match

The DePaul Prep Rams varsity volleyball team defeated St. Laurence in three sets on Thursday. Very high level volleyball and teacher appreciation night as well.

Coach Caroline Gajzler has her Rams at 14-5 with about three weeks until the IHSA state tournament and 11 matches still to play, the Rams look to finish strong. The move to 3A and into the St. Ignatius sectional for the playoffs will be a challenge for the Rams. I am getting better at shooting volleyball hopefully in time for a deep playoff run by DePaul Prep.

Wouldn’t it be great to shoot a state volleyball final! Make it happen Rams.

(And I just love the shot of Haley Pitcock is swooning. She said photos of the bench would be the best. She was totally right!)

DePaul Prep Opens Volleyball Season against IC Catholic Prep

The match was basically as close as it could get. The DePaul Prep Rams fell in three sets to IC Catholic Prep by the closest of margins, 25 to 23 in the final set at DePaul Prep’s Tom Winiecki Gym.

A big crowd in DePaul Prep’s Tom Winiecki Gym welcomed the return of high level volleyball to the Northside.

Should be a great season.

DePaul Prep Falls to IC Catholic in Regional Final

In a rematch of last year’s regional final, the DePaul Prep Rams girls volleyball team fell again to IC Catholic in an exciting three set match on Thursday, October 27, 2022.

DePaul Prep Volleyball Photos From Resurrection and Rosary Matches

The DePaul Prep Rams varsity team had two home matches against rivals Resurrection and Rosary this week. I couldn’t pass that up. Tuesday’s Resurrection match turned out better for the Rams winning in two straight games. Not so much in today’s match against Rosary. Rams fell in two straight games.

Volleyball is hard to photograph. I am out of practice. I will keep working at it. I hope you like the photos.

IC Catholic Prep Volleyball Wins DePaul Prep IHSA Regional

The Immaculate Conception Catholic Prep defeated the DePaul Prep Rams in two sets to win the IHSA Regional on Thursday evening (October 28, 2021).

I don’t know much about volleyball but the IC Knights played vary well as it appeared to me.

The new configuration of the court limited where I could shoot from. But I found a good spot. I hope you like the photos.

DePaul Prep Girls Volleyball Falls to Trinity on Senior Night

The DePaul Prep girls varsity volleyball team lost a close match to Trinity on Senior Night Thursday (October 7, 2021).

This was my first time photographing volleyball since my daughter Mary Claire played for Gordon Tech in 2011. That was a good volleyball team, or so I remember. It came back to me after a while. I hope you like the photos.