Cali Tierney is back where she belongs for Providence.
The 6-foot junior is starting at outside hitter. She never leaves the court. She’s closing out games with authority.
On this day, it paid off in a big victory — and a big smile.
“I’m so happy,” Tierney said. “Since last season, I’ve looked forward to this, especially playing six rotations with Abbey (Knight). I can’t wait to see what this season has in store for us.”
Tierney was quite the authority Tuesday night for the Celtics in a 19-25, 25-17, 25-16 nonconference victory over host Lincoln-Way West in New Lenox.
Knight led Providence (5-0) with 13 kills. Tierney added 10 kills, 11 digs, seven service points and an ace. Demi Carbone handed out 16 assists, while Delaney Purtill contributed 15.
Drake recruit Caroline Smith produced a match-high 16 kills for Lincoln-Way West (4-4). Claire Murphy added 24 assists, while Laney Tuttle made 16 digs.
The Celtics struggled through the first game before finding their footing midway through the second. It was 18-11 when Tierney went on a four-kill streak that helped close it out.
In the third game, the Warriors rallied from an eight-point deficit to get within 18-16 before Tierney tooled a block and put the ball down. It started a 7-0 run that she ended with back-to-back kills.
“It was like coach (Lee Rucinski) told us, in the second and third set, we woke up,” Tierney said. “We realized that this team we were playing is full of hitters. They are a solid team.
“We just played our game, got some good ups and took it home.”
Tierney’s happiness these days has come at the end of a whole lot of patience and perseverance.
After shifting between the varsity and JV teams as a freshman outside hitter, she came up to the varsity to stay as a sophomore. But there was a problem.
Aside from Knight and Tierney, Maryville recruit Payton Mandac was the third candidate to start at outside hitter. There was only room in the starting rotation for two.
Rucinski called a meeting.
“I talked to them all and said, ‘Hey, over the summer, one of you is going to have to play right side,’” Rucinski said. “Cali’s a competitor. She wanted to play outside. But she also wanted to win.
“So she took it.”
And ran with it.
Tierney had a solid sophomore season playing the right side, putting down 150 kills and making 16 blocks. She was a significant contributor as the Celtics went unbeaten in conference and won a Class 3A sectional title.
Her attitude?
“Of course, at first, I was disappointed,” Tierney said. “But then I just thought about what I had to do, what was best for the team, and that was to play right side. We made it pretty far.
“It was fun, but I just really like passing. The outside is where I belong.”
She’s been showing that to start the new season. Tierney was all-tournament with 34 kills, 36 digs and four blocks as the Celtics won the Wilmington Invitational.
“It’s fun to watch her play her natural position,” Rucinski said. “She has different arm angles, different cut shots. She has a little of everything in her bag.
“She’s one of our best passers and one of our best overall players. This is kind of her coming-out party.”
And if Tierney is happy playing six rotations with Knight … well, the feeling is mutual.
“Cali is definitely a great person to be playing with,” Knight said. “I know when I’m in the front row, I have someone I can trust in the back row. Being on a team with new players, it’s very comfortable to have someone there who can have my back.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
