Willowbrook’s girls volleyball team completed a busy week by winning four of five matches and placing second at its own eight-team invitational, which took place Sept. 4-5. The Warriors won their first four matches of the event before losing the championship match. Metea Valley defeated Willowbrook 25-15, 27-25 in the title contest.
The Warriors’ overall record stood at 6-2 at the end of the invite.
Willowbrook opened the invite by winning three straight matches in pool play on Sept. 4. The Warriors began the event with a 25-18, 25-21 win over Coal City. Willowbrook then beat Trinity 25-17, 25-19 before closing the day with a 25-21, 25-21 victory over Glenbard South.
The Warriors defeated Addison Trail 25-11, 25-11 in a morning semifinal match on Sept. 5. Willowbrook faced Metea Valley in the championship match later that morning.
Willowbrook played its first home match of the 2026 season on Sept. 2, when it battled Lyons Township. The visiting Lions defeated the Warriors 25-14, 25-17 in Villa Park.
Before the match against Lyons Township, Willowbrook honored Irene Mason, who earned her 200th victory as the program’s head coach near the end of the 2025 season. Mason is currently in her tenth season as the program’s head coach. She guided the Warriors to the third-place trophy in the 2023 IHSA Class 4A state tournament. Willowbrook set a new program record for victories in a season when it won 40 matches in the 2023 season. The Warriors won conference, regional, sectional, and super-sectional titles on their way to the state semifinals and finished the 2023 season with a 40-2 record.
Sophomore Darcy Hurley hit four kills for Willowbrook in its loss to Lyons Township. Sophomore Lucy Franz provided three kills, while senior Maggie Hurley contributed two kills. Senior Melanie Marinier handed out seven assists for the Warriors. Freshman Paige Marinier supplied five assists. Senior Matea Mockler made five digs for Willowbrook. Senior Tess Doyle added four digs.
“This is the youngest group that I’ve ever had on varsity,” said Mason after the Warriors’ loss to the Lions. She noted that the team includes four sophomores (Tessa Burritt, Franz, Darcy Hurley and Evelyn Lammers) and two freshmen (Paige Marinier and Bryna Meeker).
“They are eager to learn,” said Mason of the Warriors’ young lineup. “They’re working hard and having fun.”
Willowbrook opened its 2026 season with a 25-16, 25-18 victory at Walter Payton College Prep in Chicago on Aug. 24. The Warriors moved to 2-0 following their 25-11, 25-6 win at Elgin on Aug. 26.
Maggie Hurley bashed 10 kills in Willowbrook’s season-opening win over Walter Payton College Prep. Melanie Marinier piled up 13 assists and five digs in the victory. Darcy Hurley contributed five kills and three aces. Franz made four kills, while Burritt and Lammers connected for two kills each. Doyle supplied 11 digs.
Darcy Hurley served 10 aces and hit two kills in the Warriors’ win at Elgin.
Willowbrook opened its West Suburban Gold Conference season with a match at Proviso East earlier this week. This Saturday, Sept. 12, the Warriors will play at Leyden High School’s Eagle Invite.
