Senior Mackenzie Sloger and her Riverside Brookfield High School girls volleyball teammates played like they belonged in a Class 4A regional final, Oct. 29. In fact, the Bulldogs nearly won.
The program’s best season in years ended with a tight 25-23, 26-24 loss to St. Laurence for the Riverside Brookfield Regional title between the No. 4-5 seeds of the Argo Sectional.
No. 5 RBHS (25-12) led 22-19 in the first set and 23-22 in the second.
“I think this was the best volleyball our team has played all season. Although it is disappointing that we weren’t able to pull out the win, I couldn’t be prouder of every person on this team,” Sloger said. “Playing at home definitely gave us an advantage. Throughout the game, I kept reminding the team that playing it safe wasn’t going to win. We had to play with confidence, trust our abilities, and go after every single point.”
A four-year varsity standout, Sloger had eight kills, seven digs and 18 service receptions with five kills in the second set. Other statistical leaders included Ponnappan (4 kills, 3 total blocks), junior Nina Johnsen (7 service points) Foster (3 kills) and sophomores Crist (20 assists, 6 digs, 3 kills), Sage Roldan (9 digs, 11 service receptions), Ivana Zaper (4 kills), Ella Wilkowski (2 kills, 3 digs) and Kenley Callahan (2 digs).
The Bulldogs were hoping to win their first regional title since 2016, the senior year of U.S. Olympic indoor volleyball player Dana Rettke. They beat No. 12 Morton 25-5, 25-8 in the regional semifinals.
“We talked the entire season about going up against opponents who are really good and playing our hearts out and working really hard in practice,” said fifth-year RBHS coach Caitlin Staib-Lipinski. “This is the best team we’ve had (that I’ve coached) with the connecting of everybody. I have nothing bad to say. We played very well and this is what we prepared for all season. It was a tough match.”
With RBHS trailing 24-23, Ponnappan and Foster combined on a block to fight off the first match point. After a service error, No. 4 St. Laurence (28-8) won on the Bulldogs’ third-hit ball across the net that was ruled illegal.
In the first set, the Vikings scored four straight points to take a 23-22 lead. After Wilkowski’s kill for a 23-23 tie, the Vikings scored two points on a block and kill. St. Laurence led 31-24 in kills with minimal defensive and serve receive errors. The Vikings played top-seeded Mother McAuley in Tuesday’s sectional semifinals.
“This season has been so much fun because of the amazing people on this team. The memories we’ve made this year are ones I will cherish forever because this was such a special group,” Sloger said. “I hope my leadership has allowed me to make a positive impact on both the players and the program. Ultimately, I hope I impacted this team in the same way that so many others have impacted me throughout my years in the program.”
Sloger’s 202 career aces is a school record, eclipsing Rettke’s former record of 191. She also is second in career kills (853) and digs (575). Sloger was the Upstate Eight Conference East Division Player of the Year and all-conference with Ponnappan, Roldan and Crist, whose 729 assists is No. 2 as a program season total.
Riverside-Brookfield’s Sage Roldan (4) returns a serve against St. Laurence during the Class 4A Riverside-Brookfield Regional championship match Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Demetra Foster (10) and Asha Ponnappan (5) go up for the block attempt against St. Laurence’s Elliana Glenn (7) during the Class 4A Riverside-Brookfield Regional championship match Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Ella Wilkowski (22) passes the ball against St. Laurence during the Class 4A Riverside-Brookfield Regional championship match Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Elsie Crist (9) floats a shot over the net against St. Laurence during the Class 4A Riverside-Brookfield Regional championship match Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
This was the second varsity season for Ponnappan, No. 7 with 211 career blocks, and first for seniors Jenna Noga, Julia Szymczak and Dunja Kecman, a move-in from Serbia.
“I think our senior class did a phenomenal job leading by example,” Staib-Lipinski said. “(Sloger has) gone through all of the stages of us growing as a program.”
Staib-Lipinski hopes this even stronger 20-win season with another UEC East title can be the catalyst for greater postseason success.
“Now we know we can play some top-dog schools and compete. We may not win but we’re competing every time and not giving up,” Staib-Lipinski said. “We’re not walking into a match hesitant. I think just shows a lot of growth. We can face any team without hesitation.”
LTHS girls volleyball
In her first varsity season with the Lyons Township girls volleyball team, junior Gabby Munoz has emerged as a strong backrow player and server.
“I feel like as a defender, my mindset is just go for everything,” Munoz said. “This year (backrow seniors Julia Ahrens and Avery Lee) put so much confidence in me. Just being around them makes me want to go for everything.”
Equally as determined in their second meeting, the Lions defeated York 25-18, 25-16 Oct. 29 for the 4A Oak Lawn Regional title after beating the Dukes 25-21, 25-22 Oct. 20 in Elmhurst to share the West Suburban Conference Silver Division title. The Lions (31-6), the No. 3 seed in the Argo Sectional, played No. 2 Marist (29-4) Tuesday in the sectional semifinals. York (22-15) was the No. 6 seed.
“I think we definitely had a lot more energy and confidence coming into this (York) match knowing that this mattered a lot,” Munoz said.
LTHS four-year varsity player Taylor Carroll has been part of three regional champions. She also finished 6-0 against York and junior starter Eileen Carroll, her cousin.
“I love playing against her. She’s such a firecracker out there,” Carroll said. “I won’t ever play her again probably but it’s always a fun game. And she had an awesome night. Bittersweet because you never want to end your cousin’s season but also it’s always fun to win.”
The Lions hope recent losses fuel their run toward the Lyons Township Super-Sectional Nov. 9. If they win Tuesday, the Lions probably would see No. 1 Mother McAuley (33-4) in the sectional final Nov. 5. The Lions lost at McAuley 25-23, 25-8 Oct. 21 as part of a 3-3 finish to the regular season.
“Obviously our record is different than it was before. (That) has forced us to see we need to play well,” Carroll said.
“We played more consistent and perhaps a little more assertive (this time against York),” LTHS coach Jill Bober said.
“I definitely think all of our losses have definitely added a little bit more motivation, focus, spring in our step just to fix what we need to.”