With colleges calling, Maddie Maloney helps ‘still dominant’ Lemont finish off undefeated conference season

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Even though Lemont clinched the South Suburban Blue championship back on Oct. 13, junior outside hitter Maddie Maloney still had some big goals left on her list.

With three matches remaining on the conference schedule, Maloney and her teammates wanted to run the table and close things out with a perfect record.

“We needed to finish this out,” Maloney said. “We’ve been excited all season. It was important this year. It was a very, very new team.

“It was important to show that even though we’re new, we’re still dominant in the conference.”

Maloney finished with nine kills and two solo blocks to help host Lemont dominate Thursday night with a 25-18, 25-11 win over Tinley Park that clinched an undefeated season in conference.

Marta Pranskunas added seven kills for Lemont (23-11, 13-0). Kaitlyn Wilson came up with six.

Lemont, which has won 35 straight conference matches, has gone either 13-0 or 12-1 in the last 12 seasons for a 151-5 record. That includes crossover wins against foes in the SSC Red.

“I knew that we’ve been pretty good,” Maloney said. “I wanted to continue the legacy, honestly. I hope we do it again next year.”

Aubrey Splide led Tinley Park (8-16, 5-7) with two kills and an ace. The Titans came out fired up and went toe to toe early with Lemont, forcing a 13-13 tie. But Lemont dominated thereafter.

During that stretch, Lemont pulled away by outscoring the Titans 5-1 to take a 21-14 lead and the 5-foot-10 Maloney scored all five points with four kills and a block.

Lemont coach Peggy Clemens, who is in her first season at the school after a stint at Stagg, heard about Maloney but seeing has been believing.

“Seeing her in the gym is a little different than hearing about her,” Clemens said of Maloney. “She’s a good all-around player. To be able to have her in the front row and the back row as an offensive and defensive threat is really amazing for us.

“She has the ability to hit very hard, and it’s special to see when she gets after it.”

Maloney got plenty of starting time last season, and with just four seniors on the roster in 2026, she became valuable in a leadership role.

“This season, she has matured a lot,” Clemens said of Maloney. “She is taking on an upperclassman role, and she’s been playing all the way around on the court.

“And we’re always able to lean on her to put a ball away.”

Sophomore setter Maggie Kula, new to the varsity this season, is happy to have Maloney as a terminator in the front row and as a mentor.

“She is the most energetic player and is always dominant on the court,” Kula said of Maloney. “She’s always ready to put the ball down and always helping.

“The seniors and Maddie definitely helped me this year because they were on varsity last year. They all welcomed me with open arms.”

Maloney welcomed volleyball with open arms when her mother Becky, maiden name Hart, introduced her to the sport. Hart played at Stagg and in college at Tampa. She has been a big help in Maddie’s career.

Maddie, who is being sought after by colleges, even turned down an offer by Northern Illinois. Becky has been helping out with the process.

“She is a huge influence — she helps me out all the time,” Maloney said of her mother. “She is helping he with recruiting and tells me how I did every game, good or bad. She is always honest with me.”

And after the Tinley Park match?

“Hopefully, she will tell me good things,” Maloney said.

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter or the Daily Southtown.