Players crying. Teammates consoling them. TikTok audios playing. The sound of cameras clicking as proud parents cherish their child’s Senior Night. The crowd is hyped, yelling their friends’ names, and planning out cheers to scream during the match. To say the girls’ volleyball game on Octo. 17 was exciting and emotional would be an understatement.  

The girls’ volleyball team was not only celebrating Senior Night, but also was going into their at-home conference game against Larkin on Oct. 17. The team was filled with emotion and excitement, knowing they had to savor every moment, but also put in their all to bring the win back to West Chicago Community High School. 

Before the game, the nine seniors (Ava Lowell, Regan Miessler, Leah Stetsik, Kylie Doyle, Anna Pinkevich, Aidan Gerster, Trinity Nelson, Maggie White, and Gia Rotger) were welcomed to the gym with gift baskets, food, and posters hanging on the bleachers. They were escorted by their parents and teammates looked on.

“Before the game, I was excited and sad because it was our last time playing at our home court,” Pinkevich said.

White and junior Emily Hanania warmed-up, practicing blocking jumps before the game to get ready. 

“I was very emotional knowing this was my last time ever playing with my closest friends after four years together and volleyball was what began our friendship,” Doyle said. 

Co-captain Lowell was unable to play in the last home game due to a torn ACL injury. However, that did not stop her, as she got to serve the ball while the entire crowd cheered her on.

“Once I got injured, it felt like everything got ripped away from me, leaving me with nothing. On my senior night my coach, Bell let me serve for a couple points, and hearing everyone yell my name brought back the memories of what my life used to be like. It just feels like torture not being able to do anything for my team. I’m still really proud of how far my team came without me playing with them,” Lowell said.

Watching her teammates play without being able to join the action took a toll on Lowell, who was – previously – on the court at all times. 

“I was in the gym almost every day, putting in the work hoping to get something great out of it. All of a sudden, I found myself having to get surgery and not being able to play my last year of high school volleyball. My friends and family know how dear high school volleyball is to me. Having people come to your games just to watch you play is a type of feeling I never wanted to lose,” Lowell said.

While Lowell’s return to the court was a key moment, the entire game was described as “thrilling.” The student section carefully watched the match unfold while dressed in suits and formal outfits following the game’s theme, which was ESPN. Several fans held head cutouts of the seniors’ baby pictures, or posters.

The game started off with some fast moves on WEGO’s part. Pinkevich completed a blocking jump – as in earlier warmups – successfully stopped her opponent’s attack, and within minutes of the game, scored a point against Larkin, prompting her fellow senior players to celebrate. 

“I just wanted one last good attack,” she said.

Meanwhile, Stetsik and Pinkevich prepared to attack together as the ball headed to their side of the court. The team not only demonstrated solid defense throughout the conference meet, but strong offense as well, easily winning the two sets.

The whole team ran onto the court after winning the game, taking home the conference win. The girls were also undefeated in their conference this year. 

“I wanna leave behind that even when you’re down or there’s a bump in the road that feels like it’s over, you can always fight your way back up as long as you want it enough,” Doyle said. 

The student section and players came down to the court to celebrate the win against Larkin and sing the school fight song together.

 “Winning a conference was the most accomplishing feeling ever. Going into the season that was our main goal and we knew we had to fight extra hard every game. We did exactly that, especially in our game against Glenbard South. We told ourselves this was everything we have been working for and each of us put everything we had into that game. All the hard work has finally paid off, and I couldn’t be prouder of every single one of us,” co-Captain Miessler said. 

Tears were shed and smiles were wide once the meet was over. WEGO girls won against Larkin 2-0. Although they still had the regional competition, the seniors knew they were ending their high school volleyball career with a major victory. 

“I want to leave behind the loving and hardworking environment my team had this season. We are all so close and it made us fight so much harder in close games. We knew how to get each other through hard times and always had each other’s backs. This is so important for underclassmen to have as they lead the program once they get older,” Miessler said.