Here’s how well things went Tuesday night for Marist’s Bella Bullington.
In the first game, the senior outside hitter and Northwestern recruit delivered nine kills, including four straight. In the second game, she contributed five kills, featuring a stretch of three in a row.
Even the break between games was eventful as she was presented with an honorary game jersey as one of 26 players to be invited to the Under Armour Next All-American volleyball match.
“I knew it was coming, but I’m very excited about it,” Bullington said of the invitation to the match which will be played in January in Orlando. “I found out in July. I’m looking forward to it.”
But Bullington also knows there’s a little more work to be done before that with the RedHawks.
Her 14 kills helped host Marist roll to a 25-17, 25-12 East Suburban Catholic Conference victory over Marian Catholic in Chicago to extend its winning streak to seven matches.
Ava Stratton added six kills for Marist (25-9, 6-1), while Maddie Berry had 16 assists. Molly Boyle chipped in with 10 digs, followed by Cara McLean with nine assists and three aces and Sophia McKenzie with six digs.
Zoe Crawford tallied three kills and an ace for the Spartans (10-16, 2-4), who had a starting lineup that included two freshmen and a sophomore with two sophomores coming off the bench.
While Tuesday may have been an almost perfect night for the 6-foot-1 Bullington, this season has been far from that.
She entered August nursing an oblique injury suffered in the summer and was regulated to duty in the back row until shutting things down after a Sept. 4 match against Wheaton St. Francis. She returned Sept. 30, with RedHawks going 4-8 playing a schedule loaded with national competition.
“I think as frustrating as it was for her wanting to be out there, it put a big fire in her when she came back,” Marist coach Jordan Vidovic said. “She wanted to get back out there and be as big of a factor as she possibly could.
“But she came back in such a tough stretch. You have to get in a rhythm a little bit. She was trying to push the envelope hard when she got back. But she’s been able to pick up where she left off and is making everyone around her better as she goes.”
Being on the sidelines, especially for the team’s trip to Las Vegas and an intense home loss to archrival Mother McAuley, was tough for Bullington. But she tried to make the most of it.
“This season has been a roller coaster, emotionally and physically,” she said. “Being out is hard. Anyone who has been out knows that. All you want to do is be out there and help your team, and you can’t do that.
“You have to find other ways to help them. I was on the sidelines coaching them. It helped me with my leadership. But now that I’m back, it’s been great to be able to contribute on the court.”
Berry, a Davenport recruit, enjoys setting Bullington and watching her put down kills with ease.
“She’s a great leader and hitter, and we definitely missed her,” Berry said. “We’re glad she’s back.”
Marist had high expectations heading into this season but had to weather the storm of those losses in late September and early October. Yet, the RedHawks have come out of it rejuvenated at a time when the postseason is just around the corner.
“Obviously, everyone on the team is competitive and we hate losing,” Bullington said. “But you have to keep the right mindset about it. It’s a matter of getting better every day.
“Now, we’re having that upward moment of playing well and we’re connecting.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
