Newark mission accomplished: Great State

By Bobby Narang – 

Meggie Scott can concentrate on her main sport.

After leading the Newark High School volleyball team to its first State championship, and second team championship in all sports, Saturday, Scott, a junior libero, joked about getting excited about the start of the upcoming basketball season. The boys basketball team won the Class 1A State championship in 2010-2011.

Scott tallied 17 digs, Olivia Nelson collected 25 assists, and Madi Malone contributed 11 kills to spark Newark to a 25-16, 25-23 victory over Hartsburg in Saturday’s Class 1A State championship match at RedBird Arena in Normal.

“Right out of the get-go, we reflected back on fourth place at State last Fall with the disappointment and the raw determination that we were going to win a state championship this year,” Newark head coach Tanya Grayson said. “We didn’t want anybody ever to forget us and make whomever we played this year remember us as the best team they’d ever seen. I think we’ve certainly proven that all season long, and now I know this team will forever be remembered.”

The Norsemen, 40-2, were on a mission since placing fourth at State last season, when they lost both State matches in two games. With most of their roster returning, the Norsemen completed the best season in school history by not losing a game at State this year. In Friday’s semifinal, Newark beat Grayville, 25-8, 25-15 in 41 minutes to advance to the program’s first State championship. (See Newark team photo on page 12).

Malone paced the Norsemen with 12 kills and Nelson tallied 20 assists. Malone said the entire team, used last season’s State trip as a motivating factor.

“Last year, I was sitting here (postgame) after playing the worst game of the season,” Malone said. “Now, I can say we won a State championship. Olivia (Nelson) did a great job spreading it out. Our team came together when the time was right.”

The Norsemen stayed away from talking about a repeat, but with most of their top players coming back next season, they will be a favorite to win the 1A championship next November.

• In the 4A final, Marist captured its second straight State championship in a 25-21, 25-11 victory over Downers Grove North. The RedHawks, ranked No. 21 in the country by prepvolleyball.com, had a dominating effort with 25 kills and nine aces. But the Trojans, 30-12, made school history by becoming the first girls team to advance to a State final.

“Right now, everybody is disappointed because we didn’t play the way we were capable of playing,” Downers Grove North head coach Mark Wasik said. “Marist serviced us off the court, but once the dust settled, we’re able to reflect on the season. We made history because these girls are very special. They play together and it was overall a very fun season…. They were on the same page all season long.”

Benet Academy took third place in 4A.

• Joliet Catholic Academy took third place in Class 3A volleyball, won by Sterling over Belleville Althoff, 25-21, 25-22. Pleasant Plains won the Class 2A championship.