Impact of Storm Damage on Marian Catholic and Exciting Tournament Wins for St. Laurence

Marian Catholic Faces Challenges

Senior libero Marlie Peterson at Marian Catholic was heartbroken upon hearing of storm damage to the school’s gym on August 11. The roof and gym floor were impaired, rendering the main gym unusable until December. Consequently, the girls volleyball team will play all their matches away from home. Peterson confided in fellow senior Jade Craft when she learned the news. “Jade and I actually started crying,” Peterson expressed. “We were very upset. We waited so long for this season. And then we were told we couldn’t have any home games.”

Kennedy Hylton, a middle hitter and one of the three seniors on the team, shared similar sentiments. “We feed off the energy of our home fans, so it’s been hard on us,” Hylton mentioned. “We like it when our crowd backs us up.” Despite these challenges, Marian Catholic has continued their season with a record of 9-10, securing second place in the bronze division of the Spartan Classic held in Oak Lawn.

For Peterson, Craft, and Hylton, this is their final year of high school volleyball, with all three planning to focus on academics in college. Coach Julia Glomb hopes to allow the use of a smaller gym for the October 13 match against Joliet Catholic, allowing the seniors to celebrate their senior night. “It would mean a lot because it’s really something that you look forward to,” Peterson commented. “You are part of a program for four years. You get close to the girls, and it’s a nice celebration.” Craft agreed, “We all went through four years together. This year, we’ve been supporting the underclassmen. We’re like big sisters to them.”

Hylton hopes that even in a smaller venue, the senior night will be memorable. “We want to end it with a bang,” she said. “We want that appreciation. We see everybody else get their senior nights and it’s our turn. But we know our school, even under the circumstances we’re in, is trying its best to make it work.”

Marian Catholic’s Kennedy Hylton converses with teammate Aniyah Jenkins during a match at the Spartan Classic on September 19, 2026. (Jeff Vorva / Daily Southtown)

Three for the Vikings

St. Laurence’s Triumphs

St. Laurence had their first regular-season tournament win at the Spartan Classic in 2024, and since then, they’ve been unstoppable. The Vikings secured their third consecutive Spartan Classic title with a close 29-27, 25-23 victory over Providence on Saturday. Tournament MVP Aubrey Martinez has played a role in all three wins. “We love it here,” Martinez said. “The teams are very talented and are going to make us better.”

Martinez, a senior outside hitter standing 5-foot-9, will attend Ball State as a libero. Her assertive performance helped St. Laurence, now 17-4, clinch the championship. “I’m trying to figure out my shots and bang the ball as hard as I can especially since this is my last year hitting,” Martinez explained. “I might as well go out with a bang.”

Aubrey Martinez of St. Laurence celebrates their victory over Providence in the Spartan Classic championship match on September 19, 2026. (Jeff Vorva / Daily Southtown)

Scorching Sectional

Upcoming Playoffs

The Illinois High School Association has announced its playoff assignments. A competitive sectional in Class 4A will be hosted by Argo. This includes the two-time defending state champion Marist and long-time powerhouse Mother McAuley, alongside Spartan Classic champion St. Laurence and Lyons, who won the Wheaton Classic by defeating Lincoln-Way East 25-18, 25-18 in the final.

St. Laurence is now in their second year participating in 4A and has faced losses against both Marist and Mother McAuley. “Those teams have very talented girls and I play club with most of them,” Martinez noted of the competition. “We’re building to get better. We played them at the beginning of the season, and if we play them again, we’ll be ready. We’re not letting it go without a fight.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.