Eighth Grade Panthers Fall to Summit Hill, but Have Terrific Season!

By Dennis Bowling

Eighth grade girls volleyball Coach Alexis Hosselton knew the Manteno Panthers played their best match of the season, but Summit Hill just played a bit better on March 13. Despite Madelyn Gesky, a powerful middle hitter, registering six kills and four service points, Summit Hill eliminated the Panthers, 25-14, 25-17, in the Class 8 4A Girls Volleyball Sectional #5 Championship in Frankfort. With the win, Summit Hill (23-2) was to advance and play in the IESA Class 8 4A State tournament at Morton Junior High in Morton.

Manteno (26-2) had an outstanding season, and Coach Hosselton felt the Panthers played very well, stating, “Summit Hill was just a very good team. We had some serving and passing errors that put us in a bad position to hit the ball.”

“Madelyn, though, pulled through for us and is a big presence in hitting and blocking. She’s very smart, too,” Hosselton noted. Continuing, the Coach remarked, “I am very excited about the volleyball programs at Manteno High School and Manteno Middle School. We’ll be very successful.”

Gesky, a very poised player, felt the Panthers had some great teamwork and said, “We all worked very well together. We did have a lot of errors, but we just kept trying to come back. We fought hard until the very end of the match, plus our setter connection was very good. I am ready for high school volleyball.”

Setters Morgan Derrico and Danika Fletcher each had eight good sets and did a very good job.

“We had a great year,” Fletcher said. “Madelyn is just so good. I always try to put the ball where she needs it. Leah (Milton) is phenomenal, too, and was hitting the ball hard. We had only two losses; that’s an awesome season.”

Milton, a talented middle hitter, had three service points and four kills and remarked, “Our season was just amazing. Everyone on our team played well. We all improved so much and all came together, too.”

“Danika did so well, and Morgan (Derrico) is just so positive,” she continued. “No matter what the score was, Morgan was always there for us, while Madelyn always got the kill.”

Manteno teammates also playing very well were libero Mia Shedwill, outside hitters Ryan Mazeika and Madison Belisle, plus defensive specialists Adalyn Akiyama and Leah Donnelly.

Manteno Middle School seventh graders to keep an eye on included Makenna Laskowski, Kendall Blanchette, Maddy Weiland, and Nora Donnelly, among others. They finished with a 26-1 overall mark and should do very well in eighth grade.