By Jim Beers Contributing Writer
CHESTER – The Chester High School Lady Jacket Volleyball Team had a rough Week 3 with a close hard-fought loss to Gibault and a nice win at Sparta. CHS played the Gibault Lady Hawks close, losing by just 25-23 and 26-24, but a loss is a loss.
Against Sparta, the girls beat the Lady Bulldogs in two sets, 25-20 and 25-10 for theor first Cahokia Conference win of the season.
Gibault wins 25-23 and 25-23 to take the match 
Ellen McCormick (36) serves against Gibault in the 25-23 loss to start off Week 3. Jim Beers Photo
The first set was a back-and-forth affair with eight lead changes and eight ties. Early in the set the score was tied, 6-6, but Chester took the lead 7-6 and led throughout most of the remainder of the set until Gibault caught up tied the score, 22-22.
Chester took a brief 23-22 lead, but the Lady Hawks tied the score again, 23-23. The Colbert Gymnasium was tense with anticipation, but Gibault took a very brief 24-23 lead and Chester could not recover and gave up the final point to lose the first set, 25-23.
Paige Thomas (27) a CHS senior and Ellen McCormick (36) a junior celebrate following a Lady Jacket point in the game against Gibault. Jim Beers Photo
The second set was likewise very exciting and tense and featured nine ties and seven lead changes. Gibault came out of the gate with a 4-1 lead before Chester battled back to tie the set, 5-5.
The two teams exchanged lads three times before Gibault enjoyed a brief 13-9 lead midway through the set. Chester fought back and took a brief 15-13 lead. Gibault tied the set, 18-18, however the Lady Jackets would take another brief lead, 19-18.
To close out the set, Gibault would tie, 19-19. And Chester would fight back for a 21-19 lead. In the final serves of the set, Chester tied the set, 22-22, and then led, 23-22 in what most Jacket fans thought would be the final surge of the set.
Chester froze, however, at 23 and Gibault closed out the game with a 3-0 run to win the set and the match, 25-23. With the loss, CHS fell to 2-7 overall and 0-2 in the Cahokia Conference.
Lady Jacket Head Coach, Colleen Runge said, “The girls fought hard, however fell short in the end with both sets ending in a 25-23 loss for the Lady Jackets. They put up some great stats for the night and had a terrific defensive game.”
CHS senior Paige Vasquez (5) gets some height as she goes up for a slam against the Gibault Lady Hawks! Vasquez recorded 12 kills for the night against Gibault. Jim Beers Photo
“Our dig leader was Paige Vasquez with 11 digs, followed by Mabry Wingerter and Ellen McCormick both with 10 digs apiece. Vasquez also put up an impressive 12 kills for the night.”
“The freshman/sophomore and JV levels played very well and worked together to get wins in two sets. Freshman Jessie Stumpe scored a total of 18 points with her serves in the freshman game.”
Lady Jackets win at Sparta in two sets, 25-20 and 25-10
The Jackets closed out the week at Sparta taking on the Lady Bulldogs trying to get their first conference win. The trip was worth it as the girls from Chester won the match in two sets, 25-20 and 25-10.
Coach Runge said, “Our freshmen and JV levels both played impressive sets and took the win from the Lady Bulldogs. The JV team played a scrappy defensive game having 38 digs as a team Gianna Eggemeyer led the night with 10 digs and Camryn Wolff trailed with 9 digs.”
“The Varsity Squad won the game in two sets as well! The Lady Bulldogs kept up the first set, but the Lady Jackets took that set, 25-20. Chester ran away with the seconds set woth a 25-10 victory to win the match.”
“Ellen McCormick led the night with 8 digs and Maleia Absher put up two big blocks. Jordan Buskhol killed the ball 7 times, followed by Paige Vasquez with 5 kills. The girls played with confidence and really came together as a team to pull off this BIG WIN!”