It was senior night at Mother McAuley, and flowers were abound for six players and their parents.
Sophomore Peyton Heatherly, meanwhile, had her own special event while playing for the Mighty Macs. Her sister Kate, a junior libero, was on the other side of the net for Lyons.
“It was definitely exciting,” Peyton said. “Even from when I was little, Kate has been my biggest competitor. We used to be on the same team when we were younger, and we would fight all the time on the court on who was better.
“We became so much closer over the years. Just playing her tonight … it was nice to see how much work she has put in and how good she has become as a libero.”
Both could feel good about their efforts Wednesday as McAuley beat Lyons 25-20, 25-18 in a competitive nonconference match.
Sydney Buchanan led the Mighty Macs (30-4) with 11 kills. Abbey Williams and Mary Claire Deacy added five kills apiece, while Peyton Heatherly had 20 assists and Lucy Maloney made 17 digs.
Maddie Richard paced Lyons (17-15) with five kills. Corinne Yanzy and Taylor Carroll each contributed four kills, while Kate Heatherly had 19 digs and seven good serve receives.
It wasn’t exactly a sleepless night Tuesday in the Heatherly house. But there was some talking.
“Haha, yeah, there was some bickering back and forth,” Kate Heatherly said. “Although McAuley is a good team and we weren’t supposed to win, we knew it was going to be a good match.
“Playing against my sister has always been a dream of mine because she is such a good inspiration. When she won the state title last season, I was standing in the McAuley student section cheering for her. I had her big fathead and stuff. She’s definitely an inspiration to me.”
A third Heatherly sister didn’t go to either Lyons or McAuley.
Jordan Heatherly was the starting setter in 2021 when Montini won the Class 2A state championship. She graduated in 2023.
“For Jordan, it was the right fit for her at that time,” Peyton said. “They needed a setter and she stepped into that role so well. And then Kate going to LT, she wanted to stay home more.”
Peyton’s decision to attend McAuley was not totally random, but then again …
“Nobody knew that much about McAuley,” Peyton said of her family. “I went to a camp because one of my friends made me come, and I fell in love with the team and the coaching staff. Jordan told me, ‘Whatever place is going to make you happy is where you need to go.’”
Things have worked out all across the board.
Kate is the leader on defense for Lyons with 267 digs. She’s also the Lions’ best server with 37 aces. Peyton just passed the 700 mark in assists, after a freshman season in which she had 737.
According to Mother McAuley coach Jen DeJarld, the sky’s the limit.
“She’s still learning a lot,” DeJarld said. “She is not only developing as a setter, she’s learning to be a better blocker, a better defender and even a better attacker.
“Our expectations are high. And we’re trying to move the needle for her to be elite.”
How far can the needle go?
“Her ceiling is very high,” DeJarld said, smiling. “Next season she’ll have 2,000 assists. That’s unheard of in most programs. She could have 3,500 by her senior year, so the needle can keep moving.”
Peyton is focused on both now — and the future.
“Freshman year I had Ellie (White) and I still have Sydney,” Heatherly said. “But I had to tell myself, ‘This season you need to be more of a leader on the court.’
“I think I have improved, and I’m ready for more.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
