As expected from one of the most triumphant extracurriculars at Chesterton High School, the Varsity Girls’ Volleyball team kicked off the 2025 season with roaring success. This year’s team, packed full of dedicated, D1-bound athletes, has shown, not even two weeks into the school year, that they can and will continue the legacy of the admirable Trojan Volleyball program. 

Their first official game took place on August 16 at Crown Point, a tournament against several teams in the area. Included in the tournament were the Lake Central Indians, the Munster Mustangs, the Brownsburg Bulldogs, and several other threatening teams. Despite the roster posing many opportunities for defeat, the Trojans placed second, falling only to Crown Point after three consecutive victories. Senior and captain Abigail Parrish led the team to a 2-0 win against North Central Panthers and was named Player of the Match for her efforts during the game. Parrish was aided by senior Tenley Davis, who had six kills against North Central, and sophomore Reese Dilbeck, who led with three aces. A win against the Panthers was the perfect way for the Trojans to assert themselves as one of the most fearsome teams in the tournament. 

After a clean win against North Central, Cathedral High School must have known they were no match for the Lady Trojans. Although they won a set against Chesterton, it was not enough to call themselves champions, as the final score of 2-1 was in favor of our very own. Junior Luca Bombacino earned the title of Player of the Match against Cathedral, with assistance from junior Madison Gilliam, who had eleven total blocks, and sophomore Delaney Barrett, who served six aces.

Barrett was also named Player of the Match against Brownsburg for her four aces and personally record-breaking nine digs. This year is her first year fully a part of the Varsity squad, and her leadership during this match is a glimpse into the rest of her volleyball career, which is sure to only improve from its thoroughly impressive current status. Thanks to Barrett and the rest of her Trojan teammates, Chesterton shattered Brownsburg’s winning streak with a final score of 2-1. 

“They usually beat us, so it felt good to beat them,” says Luca Bombacino on overtaking North Central, Cathedral, and Brownsburg, three successful teams from the Indianapolis area.

Unfortunately, the team was on the other end of a similar outcome in the championship against Crown Point, who ended Chesterton’s winning streak with a victory of 3-1. The Crown Point match was still extremely successful for the Trojans. Player of the Match was awarded to Davis, with an astonishing fifteen kills. The loss was unfortunate, especially since the Bulldogs also beat the Trojans last season, but making it into the championship in a tournament including twelve other teams is not to be taken lightly.

“We came out in second, and we’ve never even made it close to that far before,” says Bombacino on the outcome of the tournament. 

Possibly the strongest, universal trait of all Trojan athletes is a positive attitude. An understanding that success is not measured by wins or losses but rather by improvement is necessary for building an athletic corporation as supreme as Chesterton’s. Bombacino and the rest of the Girls’ Volleyball team are prime examples of how this understanding is crucial for not only the quality of the team, but also the motivation of the players. 

Exhibit A: after a streak-ending loss against Crown Point, Chesterton hopped back on the court just three days later, obliterating the Munster Mustangs at home on August 19. A 3-0 conquest against another highly skilled DAC team was just what the Trojans needed to rebound after the Crown Point match. The August 21 game against Penn High School poses another challenge, but given Chesterton’s nearly flawless start to the season, the Kingsmen don’t stand a chance.