Freshmen, JV, and Varsity each sweep the Lady Rockets
by Jim Beers
CHESTER – The CHS Lady Jacket Volleyball program had a great night Tuesday September 26 when they hosted the Okawville Rockets in a Cahokia Conference matchup!
All three teams, Freshmen, JV, and Varsity played and all three won their matches with exciting action.
Freshmen
The Freshmen had a great showing to kick off the three match evening which started at 5:00 p.m. The freshmen included Morgan Throop (#23), Ava Bert (#6), Brooke Howie (#27), Hailey Yankey (#16), Peyton Parker (#17), Rylee Shemonic (#19), and Taylor Throop (#24).
The Jackets won the first set by two points, 22-20. The second set was a difficult one as CHS lost, 8-21. In the third, tie-breaking set Chester won, handily, 15-4.
Junior Varsity (JV)
The Junior Varsity (JV) also had some bright spots in their match, winning two sets and losing one. The JV squad includes Olivia Earl (#9), Camryn Wolff (#22), Erin Liefer (#7), Jessica Stumpe (#18), Lexi Mott (#11), Lillian Diskey (#21), Morgan Throop (#23), Aleah Eggemeyer (#13), Aubrey Colvis (#15), Avery Hasemeyer (#10), and Joella Eggemeyer (#8).
The JV started with a 17-25 loss in the first set. Then the girls buckled down and turned the tables on the Lady JV Rockets and won set 2, 25-17. Joella Eggemeyer had a good night serving and helped the Jackets win set 3.
Chester never trailed in the set and led by two, three, four, and as many as eight to win the match, 15-7. Near the end of the match, Lexi Mott served three straight points to get Chester ahead, 12-6.
Varsity
It was Pajama Night at the match and a very loud and spirited YellowJacket cheering section came to support the Lady Jackets throughout the Varsity match. All were dressed in their finest pajama gear.
The ladies had a roller coaster of a first set, leading at times but then allowing Okawville to get back into the game.
The Varsity Team included Alexis Eggemeyer (#5), Ellen McCormick (#4), Grace Welborn (#20), Jasmine “Jazzi” Meridth (#1), Joran Buskohl (#2), Liberty McCormick (#12), Mabry Wingerter (#3), Elaina Lutman (#14), Camryn Wolff (#22), Maggie Cay (#33), and Joella Eggemeyer (#8).
The Lady Jackets are coached by Colleen Runge, Head Coach. Runge is assisted by Alyssa Keith, Assistant Coach, and Reese Chandler, Assistant Coach.
Alexis Eggemeyer got the Jackets off to a great start serving to a 4-0 lead. Okawville came back to challenge but CHS pulled ahead again to lead 11-5. The Rockets soared again mid-game and tied the match at 14-14, 16-16, 17-17, and eventually took a brief 18-17, 20-19, and 21-20 lead.
The Jackets fought back and tied the match at 21-21 and never trailed again. The score was back-and forth to the end with Ellen McCormick serving the team to an eventual 25-23 victory.
In the second set Okawville had a very brief early lead, 0-2, before the Lady Jackets got Alexis Eggemeyer behind the ball and she served six unanswered points to give Chester a 6-2 lead.
Ellen McCormick came up to serve with CHS in the lead, 7-4. When she gave up the serve, the Jackets were up by seven points, 11-4. The rest of the match Okawville never got closer than six points.
With the score, 22-13, Alexis Eggemeyer came up to serve again and brought the Lady Jackets home for the win, 25-13.
Coach Runge said, “We added another win tonight against Okawville. All levels got it done and took the sweep.”
“Our record improves to 16-5. The Varsity Jackets lost to against a tough Valmeyer team Monday evening, but were able to rally back and take the win against the Okawville Lady Rockets.”
In the win, Jordan Buskohl led with 11 kills. Maggie Caby added 4 kills. Mabry Wingerter recorded 3 kills and Lexi Eggemeyer had 2 kills. Rounding out the murderous hitting spree Grace Welborn and Jazzi Merideth each had 1 kill apiece.
Ellen McCormick led with 13 digs. She was followed by Lexi Eggemeyer with 9, Mabry Wingerter with 6, and Camryn Wolff with 3 digs. Finally, Mabry Wingerter had 10 assists and Elaina Lutman recorded 6 assists.
The Lady Jackets will close out Week 6 Thursday September 28 at home in Colbert Memorial Gymnasium on Rocky Bridges Court when they host Carlyle in a Cahokia Conference match.
Alexis Eggemeyer soars to get a huge hit against Okawville Tuesday September 26. For the night Alexis had 2 kills and 9 digs in the win over the Lady Rockets. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Volleyball player Jordan Buskohl (2) goes for a kill Tuesday September 26 in the win over Cahokia Conference rival Okawville. In the win Buskohl led the team in kills with 11. Jim Beers Photo
Jazzi Merideth (1) a Chester High School senior volleyball player reaches for the ball Tuesday September 26 when the Lady Jacketa hosted the Rockets from Okawville. Chester won with the help of Merideth and improved to 16-5 for the year. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior Ellen McCormick (4) gets ready to serve against the Okawville Lady Rockets Tuesday September 26. McCormick had several serving sprees at important times to help her Lady Jackets win in two sets against Okawville, 25-23 and 25-13. Jim Beers Photo
Chester High School sophomore Maggie Caby (#33) blocks Okawville’s Adysen Harre (#3) at the net against the Lady Rockets Tuesday September 26. Caby had 4 kills and was huge at the net for the Lady Jackets in the victory over the Okawville Lady Rockets. Jim Beers Photo