In last year’s playoffs, Maggie Kurpeikis was an X-factor as Marist won the Class 4A state title. She was a sophomore who missed time with a back injury but then sizzled upon her return.
This time around, the 6-foot-1 junior outside hitter has played the whole season for the RedHawks. And the Michigan commit has turned into a consistently dangerous threat along the way.
“I feel like I’ve been able to step into a way bigger role,” Kurpeikis said. “By playing all year, I’ve been able to grow some great connections with my setter and all my other teammates as well.”
Kurpeikis and freshman setter Haven Enselmen were connecting all night Thursday as Marist beat heated rival Mother McAuley 26-24, 25-22 in the Class 4A Rich Township Sectional final.
Playing in front of an estimated crowd of 1,300 at Rich South in Richton Park, Kurpeikis finished with 12 kills, including seven in the first game. Enselmen ended up with 25 assists, five digs, three blocks and two kills for the RedHawks (33-5).
Davenport recruit Savanah Weathers and Mississippi State recruit Cassidy Cage added six kills apiece, while Maryland recruit Elayna Davidson tallied 15 digs and Western Michigan commit Taylor Berg came through with eight.
Marist took a second and final timeout in Game 2 trailing 10-4 before Kurpeikis went to work.
“You can see her toughness in this match,” Marist coach Jordan Vidovic said. “Whether it’s working or not working, she’s going to come back stronger than ever to put another one down.”
Freshman middle hitter Chyla Jukes put down eight kills and Campbell commit Cayla Prohaska added five for McAuley (34-5), which was seeking the 36th sectional title in program history.
Kurpeikis, however, was the difference. She picked up three kills and produced a four-point scoring run as the RedHawks erased a six-point deficit in the second game to force a 16-16 tie.
After a kill by Kurpeikis made it 22-22, Enselman teamed up with Tessa Dowling for a block. Enselman then came through with a kill and McAuley made an error to close things out.
Enselman, who has been learning on the job, praised Kurpeikis for giving her a boost.
“She is one of the people who believed in me,” Enselman said of Kurpeikis. “And she’s phenomenal. Phenomenal. I knew if I could get her the ball, she will rip it down.”
It gets Marist one step closer to going back down to state. The RedHawks, who won their seventh sectional title, play at 6 p.m. Monday in the Bradley-Bourbonnais Supersectional against Normal Community (34-5), a 25-22, 23-25, 25-14 winner over Belleville East (31-9).
Last year, Enselman watched the RedHawks from the stands. She confirmed that she’s confident playing on the court in intense matches like this after leading Hickory Creek Middle School in Frankfort to back-to-back Illinois Elementary School Association state championships.
It also would be back-to-back state titles for Marist.
“Winning three in a row would be amazing,” Enselman said. “It would be one of my biggest dreams. I know we can do it.”
Kurpeikis, meanwhile, has mutual respect for her young setter.
“She brings so much fire and it makes me happy to see how well she is doing,” Kurpeikis said of Enselman. “She can be calm and help us with our cohesiveness, but then she can get a big block or a kill and that fires us up.”
That said, Maggie is fired up about upholding a strong family volleyball tradition.
Her mother, Jeanine, nee Szczesniak, played at McAuley and Michigan. Her sisters, Ellie and Jessica, both played at Marist and Green Bay. Ellie graduated and Jessica is a redshirt freshman.
“I grew up watching my sisters play, so it’s always been something I’ve been around,” Maggie said. “And I’ve just grown to love it.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
