St. Joseph School Night at the Annual
‘DGN/DGS Volleyball Cross-Town’
More Than Just Volleyball…it’s a Mix of Inspiration and Support.

Thursday, 08/30/07 ~ On Wednesday, September 5th, the Downers Grove South High School Girls Volleyball Team will be hosting Downers Grove North for the annual “Cross-Town” games.  All volleyball players and coaches of St. Joseph School are cordially invited to attend the games free of charge, as long as they are wearing their team jersey or full uniform or coach’s polo shirt.  Throughout the volleyball season, all DGS feeder schools (Eisenhower Junior High, Lakeview Junior High, O’Neal Junior High, Our Lady of Peace, St. Joseph, St. Mary’s) are provided one free night to attend a Downers Grove South volleyball game.  Competitions begin at 5 p.m., with the Varsity game scheduled for 6 p.m., and will be located at DGSHS, 1436 Norfolk Street, Downers Grove, IL.  “This game is special to St. Joseph School.  It’s a chance for our younger students to see some of what our SJS alumni have achieved,” commented Sr. Dorothy Randall, C.S.J., current SJS principal. 

St. Joseph School prides itself on its’ strong academics and sports programs.  St. Joseph School’s volleyball program has seen success with many former students moving into area high school volleyball and beyond, gaining scholarships both in academics and sports.  Several St. Joseph School Alum are currently making names for themselves at the college levels; they are Annie Mastandrea (SJS Class of 2000/DGS Class of 2004), Senior libero for Purdue University; Jessica Langert (SJS Class of 2001/Montini Class of 2005), defensive specialist for Indiana University; Karen Mastandrea (SJS Class of 2002/DGS Class of 2006), setter at Marquette University; Regina Cyvas (SJS Class of 2002/Benet Class of 2006), PPO/setter for Lake Forest College; and Laura DeBruler (SJS Class of 2003/DGN Class of 2007), outside hitter for University of Illinois.  DeBruler, breaking records while at DGNHS, “had arguably the greatest debut of any Illinois player in school history” (Aug. 29, 2007 (http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/082907aad.html), earning All-Tournament honors at last weekend’s Dayton Flyer Classic.  (Aug. 28, 2007 (http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/082807aab.html).  Senior Annie Mastandrea hit records this week as well, making the All Tournament Team and being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for a second time this past week for her performance at the Duke Invitational.  (Aug. 27, 2007 http://purduesports.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/082707aaa.html)

This year’s Cross-Town Competition includes many former SJS volleyball competitors.  The DGS Varsity team carries seven former SJS competitors including Katie Crawford (SJS Class of 2004), Stephanie Babiarz,  Christine Bowe, Colleen Dobry, Courtney Gosewisch, Katherine Gosewisch (all SJS Class of 2005), and Michelle Walaszek (SJS Class of 2006).  In addition, Lauren Lisauskas (SJS Class of 2005) is a DGS Varsity Team Manager.   On the other side of town, DGN’s Varsity carries five former SJS competitors, including Ellen Jagielo, Liz McAnally, Michelle O’Rourke, and Erin Sebo (all SJS Class of 2004) and Ryan Lally (SJS Class of 2005). 

For her 2008 season, DGS senior Katie Crawford has committed to the Division II Lewis University with a sports and academic scholarship. 

Other SJS alumni competing on the DGN sophomore team will be Megan Holecek (SJS Class of 2006) and Marissa Koszewski (SJS Class of 2007), and on the DGN freshmen team are Katie Lally, Danielle Sanders, Alison Schuster, and Megan Wesley (SJS Class of 2007). Competing on the DGS freshman team will be Elise Wendt (SJS Class of 2007).

Be the Cure

This year’s Cross-Town Competition isn’t just about volleyball.  DGS will be raising money for the Children’s Memorial Hospital through a former varsity player’s charity, Be-The-Cure.  (http://be-the-cure.com).  This former varsity player and current DGS Senior, Casey Patton, was diagnosed with a brain tumor last fall.  She is doing well as she undergoes treatment, but she, her family and friends are now very committed to helping Children’s Memorial Hospital find a cure for children’s cancer.  They have started and are doing various fund-raising activities to help raise money for this worthwhile cause.  During the DGS/DGN match, the DGS players will all be wearing special Be-The-Cure shirts as their jerseys.  Shirts will be available for sale at the game and are available on-line through their website. The Split-the-Pot raffle proceeds that night will go directly to Be-The-Cure as well as half of the entrance fees. If Patton is up to it, she will be singing the National Anthem prior to the match as she is also a member of the DGS Madrigal singers. 

More Photos!

See lots more photos from the Volleyball Crosstown by clicking here.

For further information on this story, contact Marita Blanken at (h) 630-852-3686.