Manteno Rallies Past Morris in Three-Set Season Opener
Source: The Shaw Local News Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
The Manteno girls volleyball team entered this season with high expectations, coming off their winningest campaign since the late 1980s and returning nearly all of their key contributors. That experience was put to the test right away in Monday's season opener against Morris, as the Panthers dropped the first set decisively by 12 points and found themselves down three points late in the second set. But a resilient response, fueled by a veteran core, turned the tide. Manteno rallied to claim the second set 25-22, then outlasted Morris in a tense third set that featured 10 ties and eight lead changes, securing a 13-25, 25-22, 25-21 victory on their home floor.
Senior Maddy Belisle, standing at 5-foot-5, may not be the tallest player on the court, but she made her presence felt when it mattered most. With the Panthers trailing 17-16 late in the third set, Belisle ignited a decisive 5-0 run that pushed them ahead 21-17. She accounted for four of those five points, showcasing the athleticism and volleyball IQ that head coach Alexis Hosselton has come to rely on. "It definitely was a big change in momentum with the energy, from the crowd, the team and the bench," Belisle said. "We took the stress off the game and just played like we normally would. We kind of got our first-game jitters out, played hard, remembered the team we were last year and tried to get back to that."
Hosselton praised Belisle's ability to rise above her size. "She might not be the tallest girl on the floor, but her presence is huge," Hosselton said. "She jumps out of the gym, she's so smart with what she does with the ball and she can put it down for us, with the perks of having that vertical she does. And now that she's a little more experienced, you're really seeing her shine out there in those high-pressure situations."
Sophomore Olivia McElroy, who burst onto the scene with an impressive freshman season, also stepped up in the third set. After finishing second on the team in blocks last year, she delivered a critical block to halt a 3-0 Morris run, putting the Panthers ahead 24-21. She then served the match-ending ace, a feat she did not achieve once in her entire freshman campaign. "I feel really proud of myself and my team, and I just feel like we all pulled through and I'm excited for that," McElroy said. "I'm definitely way less nervous than I was as a freshman. I was never concerned about the team because the team's always been great, but just playing in general, I'm a lot less nervous."
McElroy's growing confidence, combined with the presence of returning All-State senior Maddie Gesky, gives Manteno a formidable duo of tall, athletic middle hitters. Gesky recorded six kills and four blocks, while McElroy added five kills and two blocks. Belisle had a team-high seven kills, and Morgan Derrico contributed 18 digs. Hosselton noted that the daily competition between Gesky and McElroy in practice has elevated both players. "We've seen her trying things and pushing herself," she said of McElroy. "The biggest thing is her going against Maddie in practice. They're both so strong and they're making each other so much better. It's forcing them to have to challenge themselves in order to get a kill."
On the other side of the net, Morris is in a rebuilding phase. The Warriors have only two experienced returners in Rosemary Misener and Cami Pfeifer, while first-year varsity head coach Dan Brown took over after serving as the freshman coach in 2023 and a varsity assistant the last two seasons. Despite the inexperience, Brown saw positives from newcomers like junior Kenzie Ahearn, sophomore Aubrey McConnell, and senior Sophia Geiss. Ahearn led the team with eight kills, Misener had seven, and Pfeifer posted a match-high 21 digs. "We're starting a pretty young lineup with basically two returners, with some sophomores mixed in and some seniors," Brown said. "But that competitiveness down the stretch, that's exactly what you want as a coach. A few too many errors on our end, but moving forward, it's a long season and we can correct those."
For Manteno, the season-opening win validates the depth of their experience and poise. The Panthers will look to build on this momentum as they aim to replicate last year's success, while Morris will focus on growth and consistency as they integrate new pieces into their system.
Article commentary
Manteno's season-opening victory over Morris was a textbook example of how experience can overcome early adversity. The Panthers, who returned nearly their entire roster from a historic 2025 campaign, looked shaky in the first set, losing by a wide margin. But their veteran composure allowed them to weather the storm and execute under pressure when it mattered most. The rally from a 17-16 deficit in the third set, sparked by Maddy Belisle's energetic play, highlighted the team's ability to stay calm and trust their training. Belisle, despite being undersized, demonstrated that volleyball IQ and athleticism can compensate for height. Her performance in clutch moments, coupled with Hosselton's confidence in her, underscores the intangibles that often separate winning teams from those that fold under pressure. Similarly, Olivia McElroy's growth from a promising freshman to a confident sophomore is a testament to the program's development system. Her ability to contribute a block and an ace in the same crucial stretch shows that she is no longer just a supporting player but a potential difference-maker. The presence of Maddie Gesky, an All-State senior, provides a stabilizing force in the middle. Her pairing with McElroy creates matchup problems for opponents, especially when they push each other in practice. Hosselton's emphasis on internal competition is a smart strategy, as it forces players to elevate their game daily rather than waiting for match days. Morris, meanwhile, faces a different challenge. With only two returning starters, the Warriors are in a rebuilding phase under a new head coach. Dan Brown's background as both a freshman coach and varsity assistant gives him a unique perspective on player development. The fact that newcomers like Kenzie Ahearn and Aubrey McConnell made immediate contributions is encouraging. However, the team's inability to close out tight sets—especially after leading in the second set—points to the need for better late-game execution. Brown's acknowledgment of errors suggests that the team is aware of its weaknesses, which is the first step toward improvement. From a broader perspective, this match illustrates the importance of momentum in volleyball. Manteno's ability to shift the energy, as Belisle noted, was a direct result of their experience. The crowd, bench, and players fed off each other, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of confidence. For Morris, learning to generate that same energy from within, even without a deep bench of experienced players, will be key to their growth. Looking ahead, Manteno has the tools to surpass last year's win total. Their depth, leadership, and ability to handle pressure make them a dangerous team in their conference. Morris, while young, showed flashes of potential. If they can reduce errors and build chemistry, they could be a spoiler later in the season. This opener was a classic tale of experience versus youth, with the former prevailing—but the latter will only get better with time.