Marist junior Maddie Berry has a scar under her left eyebrow.
It’s a souvenir from the day she had a run-in with a rack of chairs at practice.
The crash didn’t bother her. Neither did the blood. But the trip to the emergency care center?
“I didn’t want to go,” Berry said, smiling. “I was mad when I got back because I missed the end of practice.”
Berry didn’t miss a beat Tuesday night, helping lead the RedHawks to a 25-14, 25-15 East Suburban Catholic Conference victory over visiting Joliet Catholic.
Northwestern recruit Bella Bullington tallied seven kills and six digs for Marist (10-0, 2-0). Cassidy Cage added four kills and three blocks, while Elayna Davidson contributed eight digs and five aces and Briana Hill had eight digs.
Ellie Blotnik paced Joliet Catholic (11-5, 1-1) with five kills and two digs. Olivia Chovanec added four digs. Jessica Horn had 10 assists.
Berry, a 5-foot-5 setter, recorded 21 assists and 10 digs. Her showcase sets went to Cage, who delivered four times from the middle. The sets were in the perfect place for the 6-3 Cage and the spikes went straight down.
Sets to the middle just don’t come any better.
“Maddie and I always work together during practice,” Cage said. “I know I can trust her. And even if I do get blocked, I have my team behind me to back me up.
“Maddie is very spontaneous, outgoing. She always has great courage and determination. She always pushes us to play better, and if you’re feeling down, she’ll be there to pick you up.”
Berry is in her third season on the varsity for the RedHawks. It’s her first, however, as the primary setter.
Her gradual growth at the position was exactly what Marist coach Jordan Vidovic was looking for when he brought her up as a freshman.
“It’s almost the same like Bella Bullington,” Vidovic said. “The experience factor is huge. It’s about getting a feel for the speed and getting a feel for all of the responsibilities you have, mentally and physically.
“A lot of the hard work put in both of those years, especially from sophomore to junior year, has really connected them and raised their confidence levels. Now, Maddie is not just on the court to throw the ball up. She’s in charge and creating situations for other people.”
Maddie is the daughter of longtime Evergreen Park coach Carrie Berry.
In fact …
“I was going to go to Evergreen Park my whole life until about seventh grade,” she said. “I was around volleyball my whole childhood. My mom always got me in the gym.”
After her mom stopped coaching, Maddie explored her options.
“I liked Marist as a school,” she said. “I knew the program was really strong. I knew a lot of people coming here, so I knew I would have a good time.”
And it has been. Except maybe for that one day at practice she — and everyone who was there — will never forget.
It happened her sophomore season during a scrimmage at practice. Berry was chasing a ball to save it when she suddenly disappeared.
“I was on the same side as Maddie,” Bullington said. “We were all watching when we saw Maddie go into the chairs and not come out for a second. We were like, ‘Where did she go?’ And when she came out, there was blood running down her face.
“Then Maddie’s mom showed up, and she was telling her mom, ‘I don’t want to go. Don’t take me to the hospital.’ She was mad that she was missing practice. I wasn’t surprised when she came back later. That’s just the kind of hustle she has. She’s really great to have on our team.”
