Salis has fun in All-Star game win

Named to the Illinois High School Girls Volleyball All-Star team, Marist’s Mallory Salis intended to have as much fun as possible with the experience.

Case in point? The senior outside hitter took the court in pregame introductions Saturday doing Psy’s Gangam Style dance.

“I came out here to have fun,” Salis said with a smile. “We come out here and we practice for a little over an hour. It has to be fun because otherwise it’s just going to be ugly.”

As long as she was playing, though, Salis figured she might as well win the match.

Playing for Team Pink, Salis was part of a 25-19, 17-25, 25-11, 16-25, 15-7 win over Team White in a best-of-5 contest.

The match was played at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. It was the third annual All-Star game, all three of the matches being played at Moraine Valley. Proceeds from Saturday’s match went to the American Cancer Society.

Only high school seniors were eligible to be named to the All Star team.

Named one of the state’s best, Salis did not take the honor lightly.

“Honestly, this is why I love playing volleyball,” said Salis, the SouthtownStar’s 2012 Girls Volleyball Player of the Year. “I love playing with so many other high caliber girls who have so much talent. You see these other girls and it helps make me a better player.”

Other area participants in the All Star game were Chicago Christian outside hitter Emily Lindemulder, Providence setter Krista Brakauskas, Joliet Catholic outside hitter Morgan Reardon, Mother McAuley middle Kelly Clarke, Bolingbrook outside Ciara Hill and Lincoln-Way Central middle Amanda Dolan.

Fresh off her team’s Class 4A third-place finish at the state tournament, Mother McAuley coach Jen DeJarld coached Team White.