Marian Catholic sophomore Temitayo Thomas-Ailara is hitting the ball better than ever.
She is also making better contact with her teammates.
There is no more freshman shyness.
“Definitely not,” Thomas-Ailara said with a laugh. “Last season just felt weird because at club I was used to playing with people my own age. Then in high school I was suddenly playing with and against girls that were four years older.
“As a freshman, I didn’t want to overstep my boundaries. Now that I know everyone better, I am more comfortable trying to step up and be a leader.”
Thomas-Ailara is being pursued by several Division I schools, including Purdue.
The 6-foot-1 outside hitter is a leader on offense for the Spartans (5-3). In 2015 she totaled 261 kills. In Thursday’s five-game victory over Indiana powerhouse Munster, she had a match-high 16 kills.
The big difference this season, according to Marian coach Ryan Summers, has been Thomas-Ailara’s all-around ability to contribute.
“Last year, the plan was that she might cost us a couple of points in the back row (defensively), but she’ll make up for it in the front row,” Summer said. “This year she is a strength for us defensively at serve receive, in addition to her normal strength at the net in both blocking and hitting.
“And last year she was kind of the quiet kid on the team. Now she is showing a lot more excitement and stepping a little bit more into that leadership role. She is more complete now.”
Gaining steam: After a tough patch of close losses, Joliet Catholic is starting to turn the corner.
The Angels (8-5-1) followed up Thursday’s two-game win over Hinsdale South by taking the championship at the West Aurora Invitational.
Senior outside hitter Taylor Zurliene led the way with 32 kills, 26 digs, 18 service points and five aces as Joliet Catholic split two games with Plainfield South but swept Streamwood, St. Ignatius, West Aurora and Plainfield East.
The consistency pleased Joliet Catholic coach Christine Scheibe even more than the wins.
“With the exception of an incredibly slow start in one match, we played a very solid tournament all the way around,” Scheibe said. “Our passing was the best it has been all season, and that allowed us to really run the type of offense we believe we can have.”
Zurliene is in her fourth year on the varsity. She earned a starting role midway through her sophomore season.
“She is strong (and) powerful,” Scheibe said of Zurliene. “Her passing and defensive skills really improved in the offseason.”
Other tournament standouts for Joliet Catholic were Emily Holbrook (22 kills, 38 digs), Sarah Nahas (94 assists), Meg Sliwa (35 digs) and Emily Jones (21 kills, 24 blocks).
Scheibe, in her 17th season, has 498 career victories. The Angels play at home Tuesday against St. Viator and Thursday at Sandburg.
Family tradition: Richards sophomore Sarah Murczek doesn’t get to see her uncle Ken very often. But when she does, she gets good volleyball advice.
Ken Murczek is the men’s volleyball coach at the University of Charleston. He was previously the women’s volleyball coach at Wake Forest, where his teams won 44 matches in three seasons.
In high school, Murczek was a standout at Marist, where he earned All-State honors as a senior. He played in college at San Diego State and at Arizona, and professionally in Germany, Switzerland, France and Indonesia.
Sarah Murczek has been dominant as a hitter in both the front row and back. Bulldogs coach Geri Kizior says she is a team “role model.”
“She is also a really good passer,” Kizior said. “She has great form and the ball always seems to go where it needs to go. At practice I like to use her as an example to the other girls to get them to pass like her.”
Twitter @tbaranek
TOP 10
Won-loss records included through Sunday, with last week’s rankings in parentheses.
1. Mother McAuley 3-0 (1)
2. Marist 8-1 (2)
3. Sandburg 6-4 (3)
4. Lincoln-Way East 6-2 (4)
5. Joliet Catholic 8-5-1 (5)
6. Tinley Park 8-1 (6)
7. Providence 4-4 (7)
8. Lincoln-Way West 4-4 (8)
9. Marian Catholic 5-3 (9)
10. De La Salle 5-2 (10)
Player of the Week: Joliet Catholic’s Taylor Zurliene, a senior outside hitter, had 32 kills, 26 digs, 18 service points and five aces as the Angels won the West Aurora Invitational.
