Nazareth Erases 20-13 Deficit to Reach State Volleyball Final

Nazareth volleyball converted a 20-13 deficit in the third set into a 25-23 victory, ending Geneva's season in the Class 3A state semifinals on Friday night at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Roadrunners, who trailed by seven points following a timeout, tied the game at 21-21 before closing out the match to take the series 25-23, 25-23, 20-25. This result advances Nazareth to the state championship, marking the second consecutive year the team has reached the final match.

The contest followed a familiar script for the two squads, who met earlier in the season at the East County tournament where Geneva won in three sets. Nazareth coach Esai Velez noted that his players understood the necessary adjustments to overcome that earlier result. "They beat us last time but I think we knew what we had to do to win," Velez said. "But it’s always a close game between us and they’re a tough team so we really had to go for it."

The third set provided the decisive moment. Geneva, which holds a 30-11 record, built a commanding lead before its focus wavered. Coach Lauren Kosecki attributed the collapse to a failure to execute their closing routine. "We just couldn’t finish," Kosecki said. "We tried some different things. They did some things really well as well. But at the end of the day, we do a drill in practice called slide, and you have to finish the last two points. And that is where we lost focus."

Nazareth’s offensive load was distributed effectively. Sadie Quinlan led the team with nine kills, while Madeline Briscoe recorded 15 assists. Talia Surendran contributed eight kills, including two in the final three points to seal the comeback. Lexi Van Eekeren added seven kills. Velez credited the collective effort, stating, "Every single young lady gave everything they had tonight." He expressed pride in the team's resilience during the high-pressure finish.

Geneva’s attack was anchored by Zori Malone, who recorded 17 kills, the highest total in the match. Ally Stevenson led all players with 25 assists. Malone, a junior outside hitter, emphasized her readiness for the challenge. "I just felt like taking the challenge, like I was ready for it," Malone said. Stevenson noted that the middle and outside positions maintained their rhythm despite errors, stating, "You don’t just stop setting them because of the error."

Reaching the state semifinals marks a first for the Geneva program. Kosecki praised her players for achieving a program milestone. The Vikings will compete in the third-place match against Crystal Lake South on Saturday. Malone indicated the team intends to finish their season with a victory, saying, "We should still try our hardest tomorrow and still work for it tomorrow."

Nazareth will face Mascoutah at 5:30 p.m. Saturday for the Class 3A state championship. A win would secure the program's second state title, following their 2021 championship. The team enters the final match with a 28-13 record.