Chester girls volleyball Lady Jackets win four more matches; now 16-1

Posted April 21, 2021 1:00 am

By Jim Beers Contributing writer

In Week 5 of the 2021 season, the CHS Lady Jackets swept the competition once again and not a single match went three sets.

CHS over Wesclin

"The Jackets had a slow start to the night (but) eventually they picked it up and pulled out the win against a scrappy Wesclin team," said Coach Alyssa Keith. They beat Wesclin 25-19 and 25-18.

Josie Kattenbraker (7) and Reese Chandler (5) led the team in kills. Chandler also led the team defensively with 10 digs. She had one ace in the win. Freshman Mabry Wingerter recorded nine digs for the night. Chandler and Kendall Williams each had one block apiece and "master setter" Williams also dished out 18 assists.

CHS over Zeigler

Chester handled Zeigler-Royalton, 25-20 and 25-16, on what Coach Keith said was a "very slow" might for the team.

Katie Shinabargar led from the right side with six big kills. Kendall Williams also added for kills in the win. Reese Chandler and Paige Vasquez played great defense each colleting eight digs apiece. Vasquez also recorded three aces for the night. Chandler, Williams and Lauren Soellner, all seniors, each had one block apiece and Williams dished out 14 assists.

CHS over Christopher

The team returned to the friendly confines of Colbert Memorial Gymnasium Thursday night to beat the Christopher Lady Bearcats, 25-11 and 25-13.

"The girls all-around played two great sets tonight," Keith said. "Everything flowed well and it was a fun night of volleyball in front of our home crowd."

The Jackets led throughout the first set behind the serves of Mabry Wingerter and Reese Chandler. Wingerter served Chester to a 6-0 run midway in the set to lead, 15-4. Up, 20-11, Chandler took the Jackets home for the win serving a 5-0 run to beat the Bearcats, 25-11 in the opening set.

The second set started out rather slow for Chester with four ties and four lead changes with the Jackets leading by just one point, 5-4. Paige Vasquez served a 5-0 run to give CHS a 13-6 lead and Josie Kattenbraker further helped out the Chester cause serving an 8-0 run to extend the Lady Jacket's lead to 14 points, 21-7.

Christopher's KayLynn Tucker then answered with a 5-0 for the Bearcats, 21-10, but the Jackets buckled down, with Kendall Williams and Reese Chandler finishing the game with the final four points of the game to win, 25-13.

"Senior Kendall Williams had an outstanding game," Keith said. "She tied with her outside hitter Paige Vasquez as each recorded five kills apiece. It is uncommon for your setter to be one of your leaders in kills."

Williams didn't let a ball drop on defense, recording a game-high nine digs.

"Williams further served one ace and was huge at the net with a pair of blocks," Keith added. Moreover, she topped off her game with 12 assists.

Paige Vasquez was also big on defense with seven digs. Vasquez and Mabry Wingerter each recorded four aces apiece. Freshman Jordan Buskohl likewise had a huge night at the net handing out four big blocks to the Lady Bearcats."

CHS over COR

The Jackets finished another grueling week of volleyball April 16 on the road at Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School in Centralia. They won, 25-18 and 25-11.

It was a big night for seniors Reese Chandler, who led the team with 8 kills, 10 digs and 5 aces. Kendall Williams led in assists and senior Lauren Soellner was big at the net, pulling down two blocks.

"The girls had great energy and played great for a late Friday night game," said Keith.

With just two games remaining in the 2021 season, Week No. 6 will feature two matches. On April 20, CHS travels to Goreville, and the season finale will be at home on April 22 against the Lady Pioneers of Trico. All three CHS teams, freshman, JV and varsity, will play beginning at 5:30 p.m. and Senior Night will be held.