Seniors Beth Surowiec and Jane Manecke began playing varsity for the Nazareth Academy girls volleyball team as freshmen who barely knew each other.
“To be honest, we weren’t that close. We didn’t talk to each other much, even though we were on the same team,” Surowiec said.
“I think something just clicked sophomore year and we became inseparable.”
After playing their final high school matches together at Redbird Arena Saturday, their bond typified that of the Roadrunners.
The result was a thrilling and surprising postseason run by taking second in Class 3A after a sub-.500 regular season and coming off a 3-31 finish in 2024 as a 4A team.
The Roadrunners (21-19) lost 25-20, 25-20 in the championship match to Normal’s University High (38-4) after yet another underdog 25-16, 25-17 victory over third-place Providence (35-7) in Friday’s semifinals.
“I think it was so fun to keep proving people wrong,” Manecke said.
“We were (seeded) fourth in the sectional so we didn’t have the easiest route. We just kept proving to everyone we’re not the same team we were last year. No one had any expectations for us. We just got to play super free. It was just a fun season. There was no pressure.”
For Manecke and Surowiec, the unpredictable finish completed just how things started for them — a second-place team trophy with the Roadrunners at state in 2022 followed by two seasons moved up to 4A in between.
“We went down together freshman year and now we’re back again. It was really special to get to do it one more time,” Manecke said
“I think (in 2022) we were a little bit competitive because we were the only freshmen on varsity. Sophomore year, ever since then, she’s been my best friend.”
In the history of IHSA girls volleyball, Nazareth became just the second team ever to reach a championship match after a sub-.500 regular season. Chicago Christian’s 2011 team finished second in 2A with a 23-19 final record.
The Roadrunners, though, added a remarkable turnaround from 2024 with several returning players, some key newcomers and first-year head coach Esai Velez.
The former Puerto Rico men’s and women’s national team assistant coach also was head coach collegiately at Iona and an assistant at Lewis and Hofstra.
“I’m honestly very happy and very emotional because they deserved to go all in. I’m proud of the team and all we accomplished,” Velez said.
Season stat leaders included Surowiec (159 kills, 31 aces), Manecke (116 kills, 23 total blocks), juniors Lexi Van Eekeren (87 kills, 35 aces, 255 assists, 145 digs), Madeline Briscoe (338 assists, 39 aces, 156 digs) and Talia Surendran (143 kills, 127 digs), senior Grace Gravante (31 blocks) and sophomore libero Tess Tortorello (394 digs, 26 digs).
“We’ve got a ton of talent. Not that we didn’t last year. We just had so many new girls and new additions,” Manecke said.
“Not just talent, but personality, too. Our chemistry is the best I’ve ever had on a team. Compared to last year, we’re a full unit.”
Van Eekeren, a transfer from Benet Academy, and freshman middle hitter Elizabeth Mackenzie were among the huge additions.
“I only knew two people on the team coming in and everyone was so welcoming,” Van Eekeren said.
“We knew we didn’t want the same season we had last season. (We said) our goal this season is to go to state. I think it made it really special that we even made it down here, let alone made it to the championship.”
Nazareth gradually gained strength from its tough schedule. There were losses to powerful 4A teams like back-to-back state champion Marist twice, second-place Benet and third-place Lockport besides St. Francis and Downers Grove South twice and Mother McAuley.
In their second meeting with state-rated Lockport Sept. 13, the Roadrunners won 25-19, 14-25, 15-10 to improve to 8-11.
“I think that really showed us if we can beat the (then No. 4-rated) in the state, we can beat anybody,” Surowiec said. “That was just what did it for us.”
The Roadrunners eclipsed that victory by surprising top-seeded Timothy Christian, third in 2A last year, in the sectional semifinals. Riding that emotional high, they rallied to outlast No. 2-seed Geneva 23-25, 25-21, 25-22 for the sectional title and beat Fenwick 27-25, 25-18 at the De La Salle Supersectional.
Gravante said love was an overriding factor to the team’s success.
“I would just say we all feel like a family,” Gravante said. “Even though we come from different groups, different grades, we pick each other up like sisters. We’re all for always sticking together.”
