The Chesterton Volleyball team ended their season after falling short at regionals against Penn. The team was able to end a 47 year drought for the sectional championship, competing at Hobart. The team had a solid lineup, had a 25-10 record, and put up impressive stat lines throughout the season. The team is sadly saying farewell to their two seniors, Marissa Roe and Cassandra Lange.
“I think as a team we were really close and it helped us play very well. Near the end of the season our tempo picked up and we were able to play a lot faster than other teams,” junior Tenley Davis said.
Davis, an outside hitter, set the record for most kills in a single season this year, with 485. She has since committed to play volleyball at Loyola Chicago, but for right now, Davis is competing in basketball season.
“She’s our MVP. I always look to Tenley thinking we need to set her, we need to get a point from her,” Roe said.
The team started out the season in mid-August. During early season non-conference play, they played to mixed results, but the team did pull out some good wins, such as a 3-0 victory over Penn. Within the Duneland Athletic Conference, CHS dominated their neighbor to the South, Valpo, and never dropped a set to the Vikings, completing the season sweep 6-0. The team was never able to beat Crown Point or Lake Central, their only losses in the conference, but the games were always competitive, with the Trojans taking Lake Central into five sets. Chesterton finished 25-10 (Conference 10-4), and was in great position to take home the elusive sectional title at Hobart.
The Trojans entered sectionals with a four game win streak, including sweeps of Portage and Merrillville, and dropped zero sets along the way. Both Portage and Merrillville were possible sectional opponents for the Trojans.
“We beat all these teams before in three. I was very confident. I knew the other girls were very confident,” Roe stated.
The hot streak from the regular season, which boosted their confidence, carried over into the postseason. Chesterton did not receive a first round bye, and was paired with Valparaiso. Chesterton once again won 3-0 against the Vikings, and met up with Merrillville in round two. Chesterton kept their streak going with a sweep of the Pirates, moving on to the Championship. On the other side of the bracket, Portage defeated Hobart 3-1. Chesterton won in three sets against the Indians, giving them the first sectional for Chesterton Volleyball in 47 years! The team won all nine sets in sectionals, had a seven match win streak, and won 21 consecutive sets dating back from their victory against Portage on October 3.
“Marissa did really well in sectionals. I think Cassie really stepped up too” sophomore Luca Bombacino said.
Unfortunately, the team fell to Penn at Regionals 3-2, ending the seven game win streak.
Ending the drought, which had eluded the team for the first three years of their careers, was a perfect ending to their outstanding senior seasons.
“The seniors are amazing and I will definitely be missing them,” Davis said.
Roe broke the record for career blocks, and finished the season second in blocks for 4A Volleyball, with 149 total blocks. Lange, the libero, led the team in digs with 294.
“Cassie is such an amazing person and teammate and has such a strong mindset. She never lets anything get to her and is so supporting,” Roe said.
