Sophomore right-hitter Clancey Bowen ended the regular season on a down note for St. Laurence.
In her final four matches, she had 12 kills on 53 attempts with nine errors for an .057 hitting percentage. That transferred over to some bad practices and caused her some angst.
“I was scared about how I was going to show up,” Bowen said of Thursday night’s regional final. “I’ve been in a little slump lately, but my coaches have been able to talk to me to help me out of it.”
Bowen let her play do the talking against Homewood-Flossmoor.
She finished with seven kills, including her team’s first two at the start, as the host Vikings knocked off H-F 25-22, 25-18 in the Class 4A St. Laurence Regional championship match in Burbank.
Bowen also had three blocks for St. Laurence (26-11), with her final block clinching the win. Junior outside hitter Aubrey Martinez, a Ball State recruit, totaled 11 kills. Three came from the back row.
St. Laurence’s Clancey Bowen (11) tips over a kill against Homewood-Flossmoor during the Class 4A St. Laurence Regional championship match in Burbank on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)
Sophomore outside hitter Abby Ambrose chipped in with five kills, while Leah Romano had 11 digs and Marissa Blum added six. Senior setter Keely Bowen, Clancey’s sister, recorded 30 assists.
St. Laurence faces Mother McAuley (33-4) at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Rich Township Sectional semifinals. Earlier in the regular season, McAuley beat St. Laurence 25-15, 25-13.
Speaking of the regular season, H-F defeated St. Laurence 25-16, 25-23 on Sept. 16, so Clancey Bowen and her teammates know a little something about revenge.
“We just had a little bit more momentum this time,” Bowen said of turning the tables on H-F. “We worked on all of the shots. We knew that they were a really good blocking team.
St. Laurence’s Keely Bowen (20) calls out a play against Homewood-Flossmoor during the Class 4A St. Laurence Regional championship match in Burbank on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)
“We were able to pull out all of our rolls and tip shots, and that’s what won the game for us.”
Clemson recruit Ihuoma Ozoh and Wisconsin recruit Kymora Scott paced H-F (18-17) with six kills apiece. Ozoh also had a solo block and three block assists.
So, what were the magic words St. Laurence coach Ellen Yopchick and assistant Ryan Hackett told the 6-foot-1 Bowen to help turn her game around for a pressure-cooking regional final?
“Coach Yopchick was giving me confidence,” Bowen said. “She told me she believed in me. And coach Hackett always asks if I need to talk. They are both always there for me.
St. Laurence’s Clancey Bowen (11) and Keely Bowen (20) celebrate a point against Homewood-Flossmoor during the Class 4A St. Laurence Regional final in Burbank on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)
“They reassured me along the way.
Yopchick realizes there can be ups and downs for sophomores playing on the varsity level.
“It’s hard to be an underclassman,” Yopchick said. “It just feels and looks different. The pressure sometimes feels different. But Clancey is a workhorse. It’s a long season with ebbs and flows.
“I told her that she didn’t look like she was having fun. And that’s really important to us. There is nothing more fun than high school volleyball for your school and all the stuff that comes with it. And she gets to play with her older sister. I wanted her to embrace that before it was too late.”
St. Laurence’s Clancey Bowen (11) goes up for a kill against Homewood-Flossmoor during the Class 4A St. Laurence Regional championship match in Burbank on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)
Martinez was also impressed with Bowen’s breakout match.
“She showed out really good,” Martinez said of Bowen. “She was amazing. She did all of the trick shots we practiced, which was important because on the right, she had a huge blocker on her.
“Clancey had to outsmart her, which she did.”
Bowen got started in volleyball thanks in part to her mother Jen, nee Rinsland, who won a state championship in Connecticut. Jen also coached her two daughters.
As a result, Clancey grew up loving the sport.
“I love to compete,” she said. “When I’m having a good game, I’m having fun and I love it so much.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
