St. Francis Volleyball Team Wins 3A State Title

The St. Francis High School girls volleyball team won the school's ninth state title Saturday with a 25-21, 25-20 over Richmond-Burton.

Molly Haggerty had 12 kills, Maddie Haggerty had seven and Mary Boken had three, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The Spartans, led by coach Peg Kopec, last won a state title in 2006 when Megan Boken, the victim of a fatal shooting Aug. 18 in St. Louis, led the team to a victory. 

Mary Boken, who told the Tribune she was just a little girl when Megan Boken's team won in 2006, said her teammates have been like sisters to her this year, "It means so much to me," she said.

Kopec told the Tribune: 

"We've though a lot about Megan this year... It wasn't much that we spoke out a lot about this year until right now. We felt that she's been with us, and we've been with her."

The Spartans (37-5) battled the Richmond-Burton Rockets in Game 1. The Rockets kept the game close, tying at one point 13-13 and 15-15, according to the Daily Herald.

The Spartans dominated Game 2, the Herald reported:

A kill by Michelle McLaughlin and two from Molley Haggerty started a 5-0 run... (Maddie Haggerty's smash made for a 7-3 lead)... At 8-5 a McLaughlin kill and clever dump shot from McKenna Kelsay touched off a decisive 11-1 run for an 18-6 advantage.

Becca Shearer put down a kill for the match point after Richmond-Burton competed to a close 24-21, according to the Daily Herald.