In need of a setter, Stagg gives Paige Finegan a chance. Then throw in defense and serving. ‘She takes control.’

Senior setter Paige Finegan wears some pretty raggedy-looking nylon arm sleeves for Stagg. They have rips up and down both of them.

They didn’t get that way because she was trying to make a fashion statement.

“This (large) one I got cut jumping into the bleachers and it got snagged,” she said, smiling. “The rest of them I got from diving.”

Finegan dove and dished with delight Wednesday night for the Chargers during a 25-21, 20-25, 25-21 nonconference victory over host Richards in Oak Lawn.

Amelia Kadamus led Stagg (6-16) with eight kills. Ella DeBow added five kills, while Saja Salamah contributed 13 digs. Finegan had 16 assists, five aces and four digs.

Mia Albon recorded seven kills and 10 digs for Richards (10-11). Peyton Craan added six kills, while Kailey Moore made 13 digs. Hailey Pitt and Meghan Mallo each had 12 assists.

Finegan, however, was a steadying influence in helping the Chargers win for the first time in three matches against Richards. She got the night started on the right foot, serving three aces at the outset of the first game to give Stagg a lead it never relinquished.

For the night, Finegan had aces on three different serving chances.

“Actually, I feel like I’m one of our weaker servers,” Finegan said. “But I do like to help out with serving when I can.”

Stagg’s Paige Finegan (4) puts up a set against Richards during a nonconference match in Oak Lawn on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. (Vincent D. Johnson/Daily Southtown)

She made one magnificent — well, more like desperate — save with one of her feet. The ball went to a teammate, who got the ball over the net to continue the rally.

It was a great soccer pass.

“Ha-ha … that was a total accident,” Finegan said, laughing. “And no, I don’t play soccer. But I’ve done that before. If I think I can’t get a ball, I try to at least pop it up.”

The never-say-die effort was cheered from the bench by longtime teammate and friend Mariah Plis.

Pretty typical, to hear Plis tell it.

Stagg’s Mariah Plis (8) passes the ball against Richards during a nonconference match in Oak Lawn on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. (Vincent D. Johnson/Daily Southtown)

“Oh, my gosh, that’s 1,000% Paige,” Plis said. “She will literally dive into the bleachers to get a ball. Just look at the rips on her sleeves.

“Paige is a good setter because she takes control of the court. If we’re down a couple of points, Paige will encourage everybody. And she’ll put the hard hammer down on you to get it done if she has to.”

Finegan is in her 10th year as a volleyball player.

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“My (older) sister played volleyball when we were in grammar school, and I wanted to do it with her,” Finegan said. “It started off as a competition — like a sibling rivalry. But then she quit, and I continued on with it.”

Finegan and Plis became friends when Finegan was playing volleyball and Plis basketball.

“Paige got me into volleyball in eighth grade,” Plis said. “I did a bunch of privates with her, and she taught me the ways of volleyball. She has been my mentor for a really long time.”

Stagg’s Paige Finegan (4) serves against Richards during a nonconference match in Oak Lawn on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. (Vincent D. Johnson/Daily Southtown)

Finegan played all three spots across the net during her first three seasons for the Chargers. She then asked to be converted to the setter position.

It was a pretty simple process, according to Stagg coach Peggy Clemens.

“Yeah, she said she could set, we tossed her in there and she was ready to take over,” Clemens said. “She also set a little bit for us last year, so we knew what she could do.

“Paige is definitely a physical leader and a vocal leader on our team. That’s something we gravitate toward. The other players kind of grab onto her energy. When she gets after it, they in turn mirror it and get after it, too.”

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