If you’re trying to defend the Springfield Catholic Lady Irish, good luck.
“The thing we have that most teams don’t is we can score from any spot on the floor,” said Catholic Head Coach Dan Evans.
That’s because Catholic boasts elite scoring ability, especially at the net.
“Grace I think is in the 250-260 kill range, Hallie is 230 [kills] and Cherie is 160, 170 [kills],” Evans said.
By now, the trio of junior Grace O’Reilly and seniors Hallie Cook and Cherie Sabini have combined for more than 700 kills this year.
“If they were on a team by themselves, their numbers would be monstrous,” Evans said.
Instead, they’re on a team together, forming a so-called “three-headed” monster.
With it, comes a competition about who can pile up the best numbers.
“It gives you something to work for and you always push yourself to be better,” Hallie said. “If you’re looking at stats, it becomes a numbers game and you always want more.”
The most important number is the one in the win column, but these three say the most important part of all is the chance to play together.
“[We are always] talking about what we want and just how we can make each other happier on the court and like rather than winning, [we’re] focusing on this next point with each other,” Grace said.
“They’ve definitely been my best friends on and off the court,” Hallie added.
“I’ve never had such sources of energy on the same side of the court as me and I look so forward to my school volleyball season because I know I get to share the court with them,” Cherie said.
Now, looking forward means looking toward the playoffs and the hopes of another final four run.
It’s a dream that would’ve seemed crazy when the seniors were freshmen and only won four games.
“I know what it means to lose and it just makes the wins that much more special,” Cherie said.
These days, there are only a handful of games left to win together with Hallie and Cherie graduating in the spring.
“They’re some of my best friends, and I think it’s going to be really hard [without them],” Grace said.
Until then, this trio will keep piling up the kills, the wins, and the memories.
