By Joe Harris | Special to STLhighschoolsports.com
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Energy as at a premium Thursday night for Ursuline Academy’s Jillian Raterman.
The Bears standout sophomore outside hitter was a game-time decision for the Class 3 District 3 girls volleyball championship match against Notre Dame after missing the semifinals with the flu.
“I got so much sleep,†Raterman said. “I even went home before the game, got a quick nap and ate some good food. I came ready.â€
She certainly did.
Raterman blasted 16 kills and had two service aces to help lead Ursuline to a 20-25, 25-11, 25-17, 25-13 win over Notre Dame.
“There was a couple of times when we almost had to sub her out just kind of get a little energy back,†Ursuline coach Jeff Cheak said. “I mean, you joke about the Michael Jordan flu game quite a bit and the mental toughness and that's what it showed me. Like we never doubted it, but her ability to just fight, when she was probably about 20% of her actual physical capability, and she had an amazing match.â€
The Bears also beat the Rebels last year in the district championship before losing in the quarterfinals.
Elizabeth Koenig added 14 kills and three aces for Ursuline (13-13). Mikayla Ziemianski had seven kills and three blocks and Koenig and Lucy Ellsworth combined for 35 assists.
Gwen Keeven had 13 kills and Graci Adamec put down eight more for Notre Dame (17-9-2), the district’s top seed. Marisa McGill had 24 assists.
“I'm so proud of them because even in those tight, crazy games that they were down by so much, they don't roll over, ever,†first-year Notre Dame coach Abby Grumich said. “They're hitting the floor for everything, trying to keep everything off the ground.â€
A Ziemianski block and kill helped jump-start a 10-3 run that gave Ursuline a commanding 18-8 lead in the fourth set. Addyson Gresham added a back row kill and an ace during the salvo.
Courtney Houston’s third ace of the match brought up championship point and a Ziemianski tip ended the 1-hour, 33-minute match and clinched Ursuline’s ninth district championship, according to Missouri High School Activities Association records.
“Our biggest adjustment was really just worrying about our first contact,†Cheak said. “We rotated a little bit and got some different matchups at the net. But ultimately, it was more just about settling ourselves down in serve receive.â€
Keeven’s hot hand
Notre Dame went on a six-point run off Keeven’s serve early in the first set to take an 8-2 lead and never trailed from there.
Keeven put down six kills and an ace and Ademic had an ace for the Rebels. A Kate Orr kill clinched the opener for Notre Dame.
“Coming out we had all the energy,†Grumich said. “We had a huge fan section here. Lots of students came out. We were ready. We did a lot of watching film, a lot of hitting charts, a lot of studying the other team and we came out really strong.â€
Bears answer
Ursuline took control of the second set with a nine-point run to take an 18-7 lead.
Raterman put down six kills and one ace and Koenig added five more kills, the last of which evened the match at a set apiece.
“The second set, me and Jill's energy was insane and we both just started getting our own groove,†Koenig said. “It just took me a minute to get there, but once I was there, it was going. The same with Jill.â€
Raterman and Koenig kept up their pace in the third set with four kills each to bring up set point. Then Koenig set up Raterman for her fifth kill of the frame to give Ursuline a 2-1 lead.
“We came together as a team and we said, you know, we've been through these tough times,†Raterman said. “Our schedule is tough in the regular season and I think we all came together at the right time. We set ourselves up for a goal and we achieved it.â€
Playoff picture
Ursuline will play District 4 champion Cardinal Ritter (7-15) in the sectional round at 6:30 p.m. October 26. A location has not yet been determined.
“The word I would continue to use with this team is scrappy,†Cheak said. “We don't have to win all the pretty points. We win a lot of ugly points and we love it. That's kind of what our DNA in the gym is a lot. Try to win those ugly points.â€
Class 3 District 3 girls volleyball final: Ursuline def. Notre Dame 20-25, 25-11, 25-17, 25-13
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Ursuline Bears sophomore Jillian Raterman (1) and teammates celebrate her point off an attack hit down the line during the Class 3 District 3 Championship between the Notre Dame Rebels and the Ursuline Bears and on Thursday October 19, 2023 at Bayless High School in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, MO. Rick Ulreich, Special to
Notre Dame Rebels junior Gwen Keeven (12) hits down the line past the blocking of Ursuline Bears senior Mikayla Ziemianski (13) during the Class 3 District 3 Championship between the Notre Dame Rebels and the Ursuline Bears and on Thursday October 19, 2023 at Bayless High School in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, MO. Rick Ulreich, Special to