NORMAL - With the Lisle Benet Academy volleyball team up one set and leading 12-3 in the second, the match of the year was looking like the over-hyped letdown of the week. | Tournament photo gallery

That all changed when Chicago Mother McAuley mounted an improbable 22-8 run to force a third set where Benet regrouped to secure a 25-21, 20-25, 25-21 triumph in the Class 4A semifinals of the state tournament at Redbird Arena Friday.

The battle between teams ranked No. 8 and No. 9 in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com went in favor of the underdog, which was making its state debut against the 13-time champion Mighty Macs.

Benet (40-1) faces St. Charles East (37-4) in today's 7:45 p.m. final.

"This is an extremely mature group of girls who don't get rattled when things are going wrong," said Benet coach Brad Baker, who saw the second-set meltdown morph into a 5-0 deficit the third set.

The Redwings finally took control with a 6-0 run featuring four consecutive blocks by 6-foot-1 Illinois recruit Jessica Jendryk to go up 19-14.

Jendryk had 10 kills while Natalie Patzin had 11 and Ariana Mankus 10.

"I couldn't have asked them to play any harder," said McAuley coach Jen DeJarld, whose Mighty Macs (38-3) got 11 kills from 6-1 Western Michigan recruit Kelly Griffin.

St. Charles East comes back: A 21-16 hole the first sete wasn't too deep for No. 47 St. Charles East, which came back for a 26-24, 25-20 decision over Evanston (30-11).

"For some reason we like to come from behind," said winning coach Jennifer Kull.

Syracuse recruit Laura Homann had 31 assists for St. Charles East, which got 11 kills from Haley Streich.

Class 3A

Joliet Catholic moves on: No. 21 Joliet Catholic (38-3) trailed in the second set, 11-5 and 19-14, before pulling out a 25-19, 25-23 win over Breese Mater Dei (35-6).

"Defense has been a strength of ours all year long," said Angels coach Christine Scheibe, whose team outdug Mater Dei, 29-18.

The Angels earned a 21-25, 25-16, 25-17 win over fellow finalist Burlington Central on Sept. 6.

Burlington Central romps: The first Chicago Public League semifinalist in state history, Chicago Payton (37-2), didn't last long against Burlington Central (35-6) and 6-0 outside hitter Stephanie Holthus.

Holthus' 17 kills led the Lady Rockets to a 25-19, 25-12 win. Meanwhile, 6-0 Mississippi recruit Courtney Cunningham of Payton was held to six kills.

Class 2A

Freeburg advances: Freeburg (35-5) will try to end a 26-year drought since its last state title today after posting a 25-23, 25-22 win over Eglin St. Edward (23-18) in Friday's semifinals.

"We made a mistake here or there, but then we turned around and did something positive," said Freeburg coach Lesa Bolt, whose team held Loyola-recruit Kristen Haggenjos to six kills on 20 swings.

Tolono Unity triumphs: The Champaign area landed its first spot in the finals in 19 years when Tolono Unity (27-12) produced a 25-21, 25-19 victory over Princeton (28-10-2).

Princeton's Leah Shaw had 11 kills, but that was acceptable to Unity coach Kristy Duncan.

"We knew their middle was one of their strongest hitters," Duncan said. "For the most part, she had a double block on her at all times."

Class 1A

A-C Central rallies: Ashland A-C Central (34-7) didn't let a slow start keep it from rallying for a 20-25, 25-18, 25-21 win over Sciota West Prairie (32-9).

"We were a little tight, a little nervous the first game," said A-C Central coach Kristy VanMeter.

Taylor Jacobs, a 6-0 outside hitter, helped A-C Central settle down by slamming a career-high 20 kills.

Lanark Eastland prevails: Eastland (38-4) reached its first final with a 25-22, 25-16 win over Toledo Cumberland (28-4).

"Our serving was great," said Eastland coach Kristy Pierce, whose team received eight kills from 6-1 Courtney Blair. "It kept them from getting their offense going."

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