CHS volleyball roars out to 2-0 start
The CHS Lady Jackets Volleyball Team began the 2021 season in style with wins over both Sparta and Zeigler-Royalton last week.
<b>Chester over Sparta in three sets</b>
It took the Jackets three sets (21-25; 25-16 and 25-20) to take the win in their first match of the season. Paige Vasquez led the team with 21 kills and 11 digs and Reese Chandler followed with six kills. Reese Chandler, Kendall Williams, and Josie Kattenbraker each had nine digs apiece. Vasquez, Kattenbraker and Mabry Wingerter each recorded two aces apiece.
Kendall Williams led the team in assists with 18 and Lauren Soellner led in blocks with six.
"The entire team was pumped up and ready to play," Head Coach Colleen Runge said. "They were also a bit nervous and rightly so with most of them just stepping of the basketball court."
Chester's freshmen and JV both lost in three sets. "They up put a hard fight and Coach Alyssa Keith and I saw a lot of promise for the season," Runge said. "In the varsity game, Sparta had a tough block to get around, but once we figured out how to run our offense and play our game, the girls really put them away."
<b>Chester beats Z-R in two straight sets</b>
The Lady Jackets hosted Zeigler-Royalton March 18, winning the match in just two sets (25-9 and 25-13) over the Lady Tornadoes.
Reese Chandler led the team again with seven kills while Paige Vasquez had six kills. Peyton Clendenin and Vasquez led the team in digs with three apiece. Kendall Williams recorded the most aces with five while Vasquez had four aces. Once again, Kendall Williams led the Jackets with 19 assists in the victory.
"The girls had 28 kills between our seven starters," Runge said. "The girls were really fun to watch!"
With the win Chester improved to 2-0 overall and started the conference season at 1-0.
The Lady Jackets are having a busy week with four matches, two at home and two away.
The 2021 season will have 19 games, 10 at home and nine away. There will be 13 Black Diamond Conference games and six nonconference games. The season lasts for six weeks.
The Lady Jackets program has 31 players this season: six seniors, five juniors, seven sophomores and 13 freshmen.
Seniors are Reese Chandler, Kendall Williams, Katie Shinabargar, Josie Kattenbraker, Peyton Clendenin and Lauren Soellner. Juniors are Madison Kribs, Kailyn Absher, Ashlyn Colvis, Alyssa Seymour and Hannah Blechle. Sophomores are Paige Thomas, Reese McCormick, Savanna Guebert, Sydney Collins, Maleia Absher, Emma Eggemeyer and Briley Miles.
Freshmen are Cailey Bainter, Bethany Baughman, Josalynn Anaya, Ellen McCormick, Camryn Luthy, Kinsli McCartney, Libby McCormick, Isabelle Marshall, Zoey Frazer, Alexis Eggemeyer, Haley Hoskin, Jasmine Merideth, and Grace Welborn.
The Lady Jackets are coached by Head Coach Colleen Runge and JV Coach Alyssa Keith.