Lockport’s girls varsity volleyball team finished off yet another winning season this month. The team finished with a record of 9-3, dropping a total of 6 sets. Unfortunately, the season closed with a disappointing loss to Joliet Catholic Academy (22-25, 16-25) in two sets, bringing an end to home win streak of almost two straight seasons. The Porters’ other losses came to Lincoln Way East (19-25, 26-24, 22-25) and Bolingbrook (25-27, 27-25, 21-25), both three close sets. The Porters finished second in their conference, behind Lincoln Way East. Covid-19 greatly shortened the length of the season, cutting down the number of games played and eliminating several tournaments the Porters would normally attend. The state series has also been cancelled by the IHSA, so this year’s team has no way of knowing how long their season could’ve been. 

Although the Porters feel as though they could have finished better this year, there is reason to be excited for next season. Five out of the seven starters are returning, with only four players graduating. One senior, Nadia Goich, will go on to play Division I volleyball next year at the University of New Hampshire. Her offensive prowess and big block helped lead the Porters this season. The team’s starting libero, Ellie Anselmo, will also be graduating and moving on to Ringling College to pursue her interests in art. Two opposite hitters, Jacque Wheaton and Kelly Wojcikiewicz complete the year’s senior class. With so many players returning next season, the Porters have the advantage of varsity experience. They also have an unusual amount of time spent together, with the pandemic pushing this season to the spring, giving only about a month before the next season’s preparations begin. Coaches have recognized this weird continuity of the two schedules, and have preached using this season as practice and preparation for next year, when there will actually be playoffs. The girls begin practicing again over the summer, and you can see them back in action as soon as next school year starts.