Manteno Volleyball Sets School Records Before Supersectional Loss
The Panthers fell to Tri-Valley on Monday, capping a campaign that broke program records for blocks, kills, aces, and assists.
By Sakura Ellis ·
Maintaining the highest standard in school history, the Manteno Panthers lost their 2026 season to Tri-Valley on Monday night. The final score was 15-25, 19-25 in the supersectional match. This result marks the deepest postseason run for the program since 1989. The team enters the offseason as the squad that other local programs must beat.
The foundation for this season was laid in the summer. Olivet Nazarene women’s volleyball coach Jake Ostema led his annual summer camp for the Manteno athletes. Head coach Alexis Hosselton noted that the group excelled in those initial challenges. The core of the team, consisting of current juniors and seniors, had previously reached the state tournament together during their middle school years. That early history created a sense of inevitability for a strong 2026 campaign.
During the regular season, Manteno broke several long-standing program marks. Senior Maddie Gesky set new records for blocks and kills, taking the kill record away from Hosselton. Senior Danika Fletcher established new program benchmarks for aces and assists. These statistical achievements signaled the team’s dominance throughout the year. The Panthers entered the postseason with momentum, having previously overcome a first-set deficit to win a regional title against Wilmington.
Against Tri-Valley, the Panthers struggled to find rhythm. The opposing team maintained pinpoint accuracy and successfully blocked Manteno’s primary hitters. The loss of the first set ended the team’s hope for a repeat of their previous postseason comeback. The match concluded with the final point hitting the floor in a packed gym. The players regrouped quickly, embracing on the court as the season ended.
Six seniors will graduate from the program this year. The departing class includes Gesky, Fletcher, and Morgan Derrico. The team will also lose senior Maddie Belisle, Leah Donnelly, and Leah Milton. Belisle described the group’s chemistry as a product of four years of shared history. The players emphasized that they competed for one another, a dynamic that Hosselton credited for their consistent performance.
The program retains key players for the next season. Junior Makenna Laskowski and sophomore Olivia McElroy will return to the lineup. Laskowski praised Hosselton’s ability to push the team to higher levels without settling for average results. With the graduation of six seniors, the Panthers face the task of replacing significant production while maintaining the standards set in 2026.
