From High School On SI · · 2m
Lyons ended McAuley's 135-match reign
A 4-4 Lyons team shocked Mother McAuley in 1983 and stopped Illinois volleyball's greatest winning streak.
In brief
A 4-4 Lyons team shocked Mother McAuley in 1983 and stopped Illinois volleyball's greatest winning streak. Even the most dominant streaks can turn on one tight finish, and Lyons owned the final two points when history was waiting. Originally reported by High School On SI.
History nearly vanished
High school sports leaves behind big moments that can slip out of memory. This week looks back at one Illinois volleyball upset that still holds weight.
“The details might be lost to history, but the outcome remains unforgettable.”
A tie became history
On Sept. 20, 1983, Lyons Township broke a 13-13 third-set tie and took the last two points from Mother McAuley.
The streak stopped
That finish ended McAuley's 135-match winning streak, the longest in Illinois high school girls volleyball history.
Lyons was stunned too
Lyons coach Marge McKee knew her team had just done something hard to process. The Lions had beaten a machine.
“We can’t believe that we did it.”
An unlikely challenger
Lyons entered the match 4-4. McAuley looked in control early, winning the first set 15-5.
The Lions answered
Lyons took the second set 15-10 to force a deciding third. Momentum shifted toward the bigger, sharper blocking team.
“They got momentum”
McAuley's run began earlier
McAuley's streak started Nov. 18, 1979. It reached 135 wins on Sept. 16, 1983, just four days before Lyons ended it.
A true powerhouse
During the streak, McAuley won three straight Illinois state titles and became a state and national volleyball force.
The loss did not last
McAuley still reached the 1983 state final, losing to Glenbard West. The next season began another stretch of dominance.
The record still towers
McAuley's 135-match streak now ranks No. 7 nationally. In Illinois, it remains nearly three times longer than any other girls volleyball streak.
More records that week
The same history roundup notes Megan O'Connell's 45 kills in 1996 and Grant Sherman's 684 passing yards in 2012.
Soccer marks fell too
Jamison Imhoff had hat tricks in nine straight boys soccer games in 2008. Jennifer Brelage scored a national-record 18 goals in 2002.
Built from records
Sheldon Shealer compiled the roundup using newspaper accounts, school and state records, historical sources, archives and NFHS records.
The short version
Even the most dominant streaks can turn on one tight finish, and Lyons owned the final two points when history was waiting.
