NORMAL — Marist’s Elayna Davidson listed all the property damage that the Maryland-bound senior libero and her sisters had done when they were younger.
Natalie, Sam, Sophia and Elayna Davidson used to play pepper in their Orland Park home. It wasn’t good for the house, with their handiwork forcing them to be sent to the great outdoors.
“We first played in the front room and some things broke,” Elayna said with a smile. “We broke a window, knocked down drapes and we broke statues in the house. It was nonstop.
“Then we had to move to the backyard.”
The defending champion RedHawks were back at state Friday night, with Davidson leading the way defensively in a 25-16, 25-13 win over Fremd in a Class 4A semifinal at CEFCU Arena.
Eastern Michigan recruit Taylor Berg paced Marist (35-5) with eight kills. Michigan-bound junior outside hitter Maggie Kurpeikis and Mississippi State commit Cassidy Cage added seven apiece.
Haven Enselman recorded 20 assists and Davidson delivered with 12 digs for the RedHawks, who will face Benet (39-2) at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the state championship match.
That will be a rematch times two. Marist beat Benet 19-25, 25-16, 25-19 for the state title last year, but lost 27-25, 25-19 to the Redwings in East Suburban Catholic Conference play on Oct. 14.
Davidson, meanwhile, enjoys going up against Benet and future teammate Brooklynne Brass, who also is signed, sealed and deliver to play for the Terrapins.
“I love when she hits at me,” Davidson said of Brass.
Harper Neill led Fremd (29-9) with six kills.
A lot of players hit the ball at Davidson, but usually without much success.
Sometimes, liberos can get lost in the crowd as hitters usually garner the headlines. But Marist coach Jordan Vidovic said his hitters are able to feast because of the effort of Davidson and Co.
“It doesn’t start without what they do in the back row, and Elayna anchors that all the way through,” Vidovic said. “She’s a massive part of getting all of that stuff going and getting our balance there.
“It’s also those tough-minded, momentum-changing plays that she makes. It forces the other team to do a little bit more. It’s not her first time here and she knows what those plays can do.”
Berg also appreciates Davidson’s skills.
“She’s just amazing,” Berg said. “She knows how to lead our back row and gets everything up.”
Davidson, the youngest of four sisters, was age 9 when Natalie played at state as Marist won its first championship in 2017 at what was then known as Redbird Arena. Elayna starred last season as the RedHawks won their third state title.
Now, she’s looking to double that.
“I was in the front row because I wanted to be close as I could to the action,” Elayna said of Natalie’s championship. “Growing up, I went to all of her games and all of her tournaments. That excitement of watching them, it was like college level.
“I was so ecstatic to watch them. It was the coolest thing when I was younger. It’s always been in the back of my head to motivate me to get down here and try to relive what they did.”
Elayna and Natalie, though, still engage in some friendly trash-talking.
“There is a little chitter-chatter in the household about who’s going to win more and who’s going to have more digs and stuff like that,” Elayna said. “But it’s all good. All love.”
And she loves coming back down to Normal, especially as a player.
“It’s all I’ve ever dreamed of as far as my career goes,” she said. “I can’t believe we’re back down here, and I’m so excited.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
