Column: Mac Nation speaks as Northwestern-bound Gigi Navarrete voted best volleyball player in country. ‘I really felt the love.’

If Mother McAuley volleyball standout Gigi Navarrete has said it once, she’s said it to me 50 times over the past four years.

McAuley’s student fan section, otherwise known as the “Mac Nation,” is second to none.

“I had a chance to be in the fan section for the basketball game against Marist,” Navarrete said. “It was so much fun. There is just such a feeling of acceptance and confidence, right when you get on the court or if you’re in the stands.

“When I think of the Mac Nation, I just think of confidence and love and support. You can’t really put into words how awesome it is.”

They gave massive love and support to Navarrete during the first week of December, voting her in as the best high school volleyball player in the nation in 2022.

The poll was taken by scorebooklive.com, a cool website devoted to high school sports. Writer/editor Mike Swanson said he spent a lot of time researching stories and stats before selecting 20 volleyball players from across the country as finalists.

He was right on by choosing Navarrete to represent McAuley. She was the senior, the defensive leader, the captain of a ship that sailed straight to the Class 4A state title.

“It kind of came out of nowhere,” Navarrete said. “McAuley received an alert about it, and then the next day, we all saw the poll.”

Mac Nation came out in droves.

Navarette, a Northwestern recruit, received 16,197 votes (52.65%). Kentucky recruit Ava Sarafa of Marian in Michigan was a distant second with 9,606 (31.23%).

That’s just … wow.

“Literally every single person was coming up to me saying, ‘I voted for you 15 times or 25 times,’” Navarrete said. “It was just really funny. I really felt the love.”

And if you’re wondering, yes, she did vote for herself.

“Not as many times as everyone else did,” Navarrete said, laughing. “But I had to give myself some credit.”

This season, Navarrete had 613 digs, 42 aces and 396 good serve receives for the Mighty Macs. She was selected as the GCAC Red’s player of the year.

On Jan. 2, Navarrete will compete in the Under Armour Next All-America Volleyball Game in Orlando, Florida. The match will be televised on ESPN.

In the state championship match against Benet, she was a force on defense. But my lasting memory will be the smile and little dance Navarrete did for her teammates just before the start of the third game, which McAuley won 25-14.

It was classic Gigi, the ultimate example of how she has the ability, just by being herself, to bring the best out of her teammates.

If McAuley coach Jen DeJarld has said it to me once, she also has said it 50 times:

Daily Southtown

Twice-weekly

News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday

“Gigi is the pulse and heart of our program. Besides the fact she’s a great player and all of her skills, the biggest impression that she makes is what a wonderful personality she has.

“Her positivity, her charm, her energy, her encouragement to all of those around her is endless. And with her leadership off the court when we train in the summer, the list goes on and on.”

I can’t think of a better definition of the complete package.

“Sometimes, you get these great players, but maybe they’re not such great leaders,” DeJarld said. “Or maybe they don’t have that emotional connection to the kids.

“But Gigi walks the halls and she’s beloved by our school. That is because of what she gives back to people and the community. It’s hard not to be drawn to somebody like that.”

Or vote for her.

Well done, Gigi — and Mac Nation.