With the Regional title under their belt, five players boasting a place on the Daily Herald’s All-Area volleyball list, and a 35-3 record, it’s clear girls volleyball had a great season.
According to Head Coach Greg Loika, it was the combination of skill and, more importantly, teamwork that made this season so successful.
“This group cared a lot about each other and what they were doing as a team. That was evident all the way to the very end,” Loika said.
Right off the bat, the team formed a close bond that remained strong all the way to the end of the season. Loika is most proud of the team’s conduct on and off the court. There was no drama, no selfishness--just encouragement and supportiveness all around.
“All the girls are so nice. It was great to have such a good record this year and such a well-rounded team,” sophomore Kristin Webb said.
The team's heart, of course, wasn’t the only thing that carried them to Sectionals. The team was jam-packed with talent. Captain Catie Steffen was named Lake County Player of the Year by the Daily Herald and was one of the 12 All-Area players selected by the Chicago Sun-Times. She was also among the North Suburban All-Conference selectees, along with Kristin Webb, Cindy Zhou, Paige Hopper and Hannah Saia (who received honorable mention).
While there were the definite standouts, however, Loika believes all fifteen members were vital to the team’s success.
“I think a lot of our kids who didn’t get to play every day could have been starters for other teams in our conference,” Loika said.
The road to Sectionals wasn’t an easy one, but on the way the girls managed an astonishing 24-game win streak, beating highly-ranked teams like Stevenson, New Trier and Lake Zurich during the run. Their overall record finished up at 35-3, making them one of the top-10 teams in the state. The team also fell just one win short of beating the all-time LHS record for most wins, making it the second best season in LHS history.
Loika was impressed by the team's ability to learn and execute the specific plans for each game. The group was afflicted with numerous injuries throughout the course of the season, but they were still able to get by.
“I don’t remember a time when we were actually all healthy, but we always had somebody who was willing to step in there and do what we her needed to,” Loika said.
The girls were upset by their loss to Stevenson during Sectionals at Warren, but still maintained a positive attitude. Afterward, they cheered each other up by talking and sharing feelings about the season, even capping it off with a comedic dance routine choreographed by the team.
Although disappointed that they were unable to continue playing, everyone finished the season in good spirits with heads held high. Coach Loika couldn’t be more proud of the team’s efforts.
“We had high expectations, but they exceeded everything we hoped for them to do. They’re going to leave a legacy for LHS girls volleyball,” Loika said.
Photo by: Bianca Tomassetti