David Vales has a small head. At least compared with the giant one on a stick the Sandburg cheering section had of the Eagles coach during Thursday’s Class 4A sectional final against Mother McAuley. Much as the Eagles left it all on the court, the Sandburg students definitely left it all in the seats during sectionals, crossing the line a couple of times, but drawing laughs with a poster that said “Jesus Loves Us For Free,” to a chant of “Your Mom’s hot” when McAuley’s Ryann DeJarld was at the service line.
Power isn’t everything. Mother McAuley, especially setter Courtney Joyce and outside hitter Ryann DeJarld, proved that time and again during victories over Lincoln-Way North, Sandburg and Oak Park-River Forest. Joyce’s misdirection tips and DeJarld’s soft shots just over the front line were key elements in almost every point run that the Mighty Macs produced.
Queen of Peace has pride. It’s been said a couple of times in the past that Peace necessarily wasn’t sectional-worthy, but the beneficiary of an easy regional. Not this year’s team. The Pride definitely was playing better than its record (10-28) during the stretch run of the regular season. And to take Chicago Christian to three sets — with a two-point margin at the finish — in a Class 3A sectional final is a sure sign Megan Jones has the program going in the right direction.
