NORMAL — Taylor Berg may be going to college as a libero in two years at Western Michigan, but the junior outside hitter is going down swinging for Marist. Actually, more like going up swinging.
The 5-foot-10 Berg came through with a colossal weekend at the net for the RedHawks. And her back-row play makes her even more of an all-around threat heading into next year and beyond.
So, does the multidimensional star really want to give up hitting?
“Ah, yes,” Berg said. “Obviously, I’m going to miss hitting, but libero will be my position.”
Berg put Marist in perfect position to repeat as state champions late Saturday night.
She finished with eight kills, two aces, eight serve receptions and two digs to help lead the RedHawks to a 25-18, 25-17 win over Benet for the Class 4A state title at CEFCU Arena.
Mississippi State commit Cassidy Cage led Marist (36-5) with nine kills and two blocks, while Michigan recruit Maggie Kurpeikis added seven kills and Haven Enselman had 20 assists.
Maryland-bound senior libero Elayna Davidson chipped in with 11 digs and six assists as the RedHawks hit .292 to .129 for Benet. Berg was near the top of that list, hitting a robust .375.
It came on the heels of her team-high eight-kill performance in Friday’s semifinals against Fremd.
“She has super-high responsibility,” Marist coach Jordan Vidovic said of Berg. “She’s been a great outlet for us. I’ve challenged her a lot and she has stepped up every step of the way. She’s as confident as ever.
“There’s more to go for her. There’s so much more explosiveness, front and back.”
Brooklynne Brass, who’s headed to Maryland with Davidson, paced Benet (39-3) with nine kills.
It was the second straight season that the RedHawks and Redwings battled for the state’s top prize in the biggest class, with Marist pulling off a 19-25, 25-16, 25-19 thriller in 2024.
This time, Berg’s four kills and two aces in the first game gave the RedHawks a confidence boost against a team that beat them 27-25, 25-18 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference on Oct. 14.
“She held it together very well,” Vidovic said of Berg. “She managed the game well and she brought everything across the whole court. She’s an absolute workhorse in the back row.
“She picked everything off. You could see the composure. You could see the energy.”
Cage certainly felt that and used it to dominate during the second game.
“It’s insane,” said Cage, who hit .467 vs. Benet, the highest of any Marist player with double-digit attempts. “Taylor is an all-around great player, so we trust her on any part of the court.”
As for Berg’s hitting and back-row skills, she started out at the net at age 13. Three years later in club at First Alliance, the coaches insisted that she move to the back row.
“I really didn’t have a choice,” Berg said. “But I love it because it’s such an amazing role. It wasn’t hard to adjust.”
To her, the secret to being a good libero is simple.
“Speed,” she said. “Speed and agility. And being able to read the hitters.”
The secret to being a good hitter who’s not 6-foot tall?
“Hitting high hands,” Berg said. “And making sure you have a very good approach. When you are short and you don’t have that height, you have to make sure you get a very good approach.”
While she has another year remaining with the RedHawks — and the goal of a title trifecta — Berg wants to enjoy the excitement that she has experienced the past two seasons as a state champ.
“This team is — I don’t even know the word for it,” she said. “The players are phenomenal.
“You can’t beat being on these past two teams. I’m on cloud nine right now.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
