Senior outside hitter Mackenzie Sloger was slightly disappointed after the Riverside Brookfield High School girls volleyball team’s home victory Oct. 1. Sloger never could get the one service ace needed to become the school’s outright all-time career leader.
Then she thought for a moment.
“I didn’t realize our next game was Senior Night (Oct. 6),” Sloger said. “I was like, ‘Whatever force, it’s meant for me to happen on Senior Night.’”
And it did. Sloger, in fact, had three aces in the Bulldogs’ 25-19, 25-14 Upstate Eight Conference East Division victory over Fenton.
With 296 aces, Sloger has passed the previous career record of 291 by 2017 graduate Dana Rettke, a member of the silver-medal U.S. Olympic women’s indoor volleyball team at the 2024 summer games in Paris.
“That’s definitely (an additional honor), beating an Olympian’s record,” Sloger said.
Sloger’s historic ace for the Bulldogs (18-8, 5-0 in UEC East) came on her second serve in the first set against Fenton for an 11-7 lead. After a backrow kill on the previous serve, Sloger’s corner serve hit just under the chin of the kneeling Fenton defender and hit the ground. The gym erupted, players and fans alike, including Sloger’s parents, Jennifer (Halusek) and Michael, brother, three aunts, uncle, grandparents and great aunt.
“It feels really good. I’m just really happy to know that I have such an amazing team that’s behind me supporting me,” Sloger said. “Today I just focused on the point in front of me. I didn’t think about (the record). I was really happy and just kind of relieved that I got in on my Senior Night. It kind of motivated me to try and get it.”
RBHS coach Caitlin Staib-Lipinski acted quickly to get the record-setting ball on the sidelines for safe keeping. Sloger will be presented the ball with her final record-setting total included after the season.
“I think it was meant to be that it happened on Senior Night,” Staib-Lipinski said. “I almost made her serve the same ball (after the record). I kept that ball because I don’t want any other touches. I think it’s a big deal to beat records in high school. And for volleyball, at least (at RBHS), they’re a lot older.”
Sloger added two more aces in Thursday’s 25-5, 25-15 UEC East victory over Ridgewood as the Bulldogs extended their winning streak to eight, all in two sets. The Bulldogs played Glenbard South (21-10, 5-0) Tuesday in the winner-take-all showdown to defend their UEC East title.
“This season has been amazing. We’ve seen so much improvement,” RBHS senior Asha Ponnappan said. “I think we’ll actually go really far this year. We’re, honestly, a little better than last year and I’m really excited to see the rest of the season.”
Sloger is a confessed stats junkie. Last season, she helped graduated setter Claire Cameron follow her path to becoming the RBHS leader in career assists. Now at 44 aces this season, Sloger knew she needed 40 for the outright career record. Cameron finished with 281.
“Claire was talking about it last year. Even if she gets it, I would just get it this year,” Sloger said. “She was like, ‘It’s not a big deal,’ and she already has a bunch of the setting records.”
Sloger also now is third in career kills (759) behind Rettke (1,280) and 1989 graduate Mary Jurgens (846). This season, Sloger passed her mother (702, 4th), who was an all-stater for RBHS in 1991 and 1992 and played at UConn.
“She was good,” Sloger said. “And my father played 25-plus years after college. It’s a volleyball family.”
The RBHS family honored seniors Sloger, Ponnappan, Dunya Kecman, Jenna Noga, Julia Szymczak and Alex Perez, a four-year team manager. The seniors all played against Fenton except Szymczak because of a thumb injury.
The current winning streak includes a 25-23, 25-19 home victory over York Sept. 30. The Dukes have eliminated the Bulldogs at the Class 4A York Regional the past two seasons.
“That was the game we’ve been wanting to win for so long,” Ponnappan said. “Everyone played lights out. We all played so good together. That game meant the world to me.”
“I’ve spent years ending the season crying in their gym and now finally they were in our gym. We kind of took ownership and played how we play,” Sloger said. “I was so happy I could cry again.”
RBHS girls tennis
Riverside Brookfield senior girls tennis player Paige Zavorski went out a winner as usual at the Upstate Eight Conference East Division Meet Friday. Zavorski earned her third individual title in as many tries. She captured No. 1 singles by winning all three matches in straight sets, including 6-4, 6-3 in the final.
“I’m very excited to bring another win for conference this year and to end off my senior season,” Zavorski said. “This one is definitely the best win because it is my last season.”
Amanda Krueger was second at No. 2 singles, losing 7-5, 6-1 in her final. Imaan Ahmad (No. 3 singles), Annika Beil and Ella Blomgren (No. 3 doubles) and Adele Alijosius and Vivenne Wegmann (No. 4 doubles) were third. The Bulldogs finished third and third in the final overall standings. They had won conference titles the past three seasons, starting with the 2023 Metro Suburban crown.
Paige Zavorski previously captured UEC East Meet titles at No. 2 singles in 2025 and No. 3 singles in 2024. She was second at No. 1 singles at the 2023 MSC Meet.
“I did feel some additional pressure because we have been conference champions for a couple of years,” Zavorski said.
The Bulldogs play at the 2A York Sectional. Top four singles and doubles finishers qualify for state.