Meghan Macdonald was surprised last year to find herself heiress to the Downers Grove South legacy.
Surprised but hardly overwhelmed, the 6-foot-1-inch middle hitter led the Mustangs to their ninth trip to the Class AA quarterfinals in 10 years.
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Macdonald secured a spot on the Tribune All-State second team?just one of two juniors to make either the first or second team?stretching the run of Mustangs on an All-State team to 10 years.
“I love the responsibility,” said Macdonald, who has committed to play at Illinois next fall. “I even love the pressure. I think under pressure, you do your best.”
Downers South has captured eight state trophies (top-four finish) and two state championships in the last 10 years, and it was the 1996 title team, led by All-State setter Liz Ortegal, that inspired Macdonald to take up volleyball in the 7th grade. Always a hard hitter, Macdonald worked on developing her all-around game and finished her junior season with 355 kills, 107 blocks and 40 aces, barely leaving the floor.
“She does some amazing things,” said Mustangs coach Denise Lazzeroni Kavanaugh, who has coached Macdonald since 7th grade. “Even when it’s not a perfect set, she’s able to make something happen. She’s very capable of playing a lot of positions, but we need her in the middle.
“She played all the way around last year, and a lot of big kids can’t do that.”
That’s because Macdonald is an athlete. She played basketball at Downers South even while she played club volleyball.
Her versatility is something college coaches like. Last season in volleyball she played in the back row and was a reliable defender. This season she won’t see as much back-row time because the Mustangs have a wealth of defensive specialists led by juniors Annie Mastandrea and Jessica Wilkinson and senior Caitlin Daly.
It’s likely that Downers South will continue its tradition of producing All-Staters and taking the trip down Interstate 55 to Illinois State’s Redbird Arena for the state quarterfinals. Downers is the No. 1 team in the Tribune preseason rankings, featuring 12 returnees from the team that lost to eventual champion St. Charles East in the 2001 quarterfinals.
Of course, there will be a few challengers along the way, including Class AA runner-up Sandburg, which has plenty of talent in sophomore setter Sarah Kwasigroh and hitter Colleen Byrne. Other top teams include Mundelein?led by Jennifer Hynds and Ashley Fidler?Naperville Central, Providence, Marian Catholic, Mother McAuley and Wheaton Warrenville South.
“This would be my fourth year Downstate, if we go,” Macdonald said. “Every year we’ve had such good talent. This year we have great talent. It’s how we use it.”
The Mustangs will miss setter Parker, but Macdonald, Mastandrea and outside hitters Claire McCormack and Beth Vrdsky give Lazzeroni Kavanaugh an outstanding core to build around. Junior Jackie Simpson, who played a lot last fall, will set.
“My job is to put together the best team in November,” said Lazzeroni Kavanaugh, who has a 286-47 record in eight seasons.
“My biggest worry is where to put everybody. We’re going to be very dangerous, but right now we’re not that dangerous.”
History says they will be.