Benet dominates New Trier at the net in supersectional, headed to state for third straight year

ST. CHARLES – Benet trailed by a total of two points in the entirety of its supersectional match against New Trier on Monday.

When? After giving up the first point of each set.

After that, it was all Redwings.

[ Photos: Benet vs. New Trier ]

Benet used its dominant play at the net to secure its third straight trip to the state finals with a 25-17, 25-15 win over New Trier at the Class 4A St. Charles North Supersectional.

The Redwings (39-1) will take on Huntley (32-8) in the state semifinals at 7 p.m. Friday at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Red Raiders took down Fremd in two sets Monday to make their first appearance at state since 1997.

“It’s just so exciting. I’m on top of the world,” said Benet senior outside hitter Brooklynne Brass, a transfer from Minooka who will be making her first trip to state. “I’m just really excited to go down there and be able to compete with them.”

Brass, who’s committed to play at Maryland in college, led the charge for the Redwings at the net, recording 11 kills in the match, including the clincher on a floater that landed in the middle of a group of Trevians.

“We just played our game the entire time,” Brass said. “We focused on our side, focused on how we were going to play and we went out there and we showed it.”

It wasn’t just Brass who was bringing down the hammer for a Benet team that finished with 31 of its 50 points coming off kills. Junior middle Lynney Tarnow finished with seven kills on the night and senior outside hitter Keira O’Donnell and setter Audrey Asleson added four apiece.

“It’s great when it’s your night,” said Tarnow, a Wisconsin commit. “It’s always awesome when other people can take control, but having that role and being a player that could really put the fire on tonight was just exciting. And I was more than happy to take the pressure off my team and put it on my shoulders.”

Asleson ended with 28 assists. The Colorado commit said her aggressive approach at the net in the first set led to blockers focusing on her, which led to the outside and middle attacks becoming more open.

While she usually tries to focus on the hot hand in each match, Asleson said all of her teammates were on the top of their games.

“It just makes my job a whole lot easier,” Asleson said. “I know whoever I give it to, they can put it away. And even if they make a mistake or get blocked, I know I could go back to them and they can get the next ball.”

Tarnow and Asleson are making their third straight trip to state. For others such as Brass and O’Donnell, it will be a new experience. All are focused on a state title after Benet fell just short in each of the past two seasons.

“Most of us have been down there, but for the few that haven’t, they just get to experience the magic of Redbird Arena and what it really means to us,” Tarnow said. “It’s the third year and the goal is the same through these past three years. But being down there with new players and old is really special.”