Joliet Catholic Volleyball Kicks Off Season with Hard-Fought Victory
Source: The Shaw Local News Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
The high school sports landscape in the Joliet area burst into action this week, with volleyball, soccer, golf, and tennis all delivering compelling storylines. The Joliet Catholic Hilltoppers made a statement in their season opener, taking down Plainfield North in a tightly contested three-set match, 25-18, 22-25, 25-21. The victory sets a positive tone for the Hilltoppers as they look to build momentum early in the campaign.
Volleyball courts across the region saw a flurry of results. Gardner-South Wilmington outlasted Braidwood Reed-Custer in a three-set thriller, 25-19, 17-25, 25-22, handing the Comets their second straight loss to start the season. Lincoln-Way Central rallied after dropping the first set to Chicago Christian, winning 14-25, 25-14, 25-20. Ella Thompson powered the Knights with eight kills and a .615 hitting percentage. Stella Davis contributed two kills and three blocks, while Bella Bendoraitis recorded three aces, 10 assists, and two digs.
Wilmington swept Evergreen Park 25-21, 25-13, buoyed by Addison Billingsley’s nine digs. Sami Liaromatis added eight digs, and Kylie Tafoya chipped in seven digs along with two aces. Kate Grosso led the Wildcats with three kills. In a five-set marathon, Lyons edged Lockport 25-23, 16-25, 23-25. Hutsyn Timosciek paced the Porters with 13 kills, Natalie Bochantin dished 20 assists, and Emma Consigny recorded 15 digs. Kyla Mitchell finished with seven kills and two aces. Minooka overcame a first-set loss to Bradley-Bourbonnais, winning 22-25, 25-18, 25-18. Senior setter Courtney McCarthey delivered three aces and 25 assists, while senior right hitter Courtney Walter tallied eight kills. Pontiac defeated Morris in three sets, 25-22, 19-25, 21-25, with Kenzie Ahearn leading the way with 13 kills. Anslie Rink contributed 22 assists and 14 digs, and Cami Pheifer added 14 digs.
On the soccer pitch, Glenbard East edged Plainfield Central 5-3, with Leo Perez, Mikey Pecora, and Izaiah Gaytan finding the net for the Wildcats in a losing effort. Romeoville and Metea Valley played to a scoreless draw, giving the Spartans their first tie of the season after a win on Monday. Providence opened with a 5-1 victory over Von Steuben, improving to 2-0 with back-to-back wins. Homewood-Flossmoor blanked Plainfield South 4-0, sending the Cougars to 0-2. Joliet Central defeated Thornton Fractional North 2-0, with Jaden Lopez and Jose Ibarra scoring, and Rafael Garcia and Ibarra recording assists. Lincoln-Way East beat Bremen 3-1 in their season opener, advancing to face Oak Forest in the second round. St. Charles North overwhelmed Romeoville 40-12 in the Spartans’ 2026 season opener.
Golf courses saw strong individual performances. At the Oswego Scramble, Minooka finished second with a 57, while Plainfield East placed fourth at 59. Plainfield North and Morris tied for 12th at 63, Joliet Township was 15th at 64, Plainfield Central 18th at 65, and Plainfield South 19th at 70. Streator defeated Wilmington 153-272, with Hank Lindsey taking seventh place with a score of 51. Lemont beat Evergreen Park 154-175, as Henry Markiewicz and Anthony Bak shared medalist honors with rounds of 38. Lincoln-Way East topped Homewood-Flossmoor 156-168, with Drew Richter and Jack Spruill tying for second overall at 38. Lockport edged Stagg 165-178, with Kaden Downer and Jackson Juergens tying for match-medalist honors. At the Pontiac Invitational, Joliet Township finished third with a 354, Coal City seventh at 416, and Dwight eighth at 422. Plainfield East defeated Yorkville 163-196, as Taylor Miller earned medalist honors with a 37. Kendall Battle shot 40, and Hope Trosclair posted 42. Seneca beat La Salle-Peru and Princeton with a 183, led by Piper Stenzel’s medalist score of 42. Benet defeated Lemont 164-170, with Sarah Scott shooting a 35 for medalist honors, followed by teammate Sophia Zubek at 40. Oswego East beat Bolingbrook 168-248, with Lia Jones finishing third overall at 47. At the Andrew Invitational, Lincoln-Way Central’s two scramble teams finished first and second with scores of 24 and 25, respectively. Lincoln-Way East and Lincoln-Way West also placed teams in the top five.
In tennis, Coal City defeated Joliet 6-1. Melody Leman battled through a tight second set before winning the supertiebreaker 10-7, while Vanna Liebermann and Aubrey Jensen also came through with a 10-7 supertiebreaker win.
Article commentary
The opening week of the fall sports season has provided a vivid snapshot of the competitive landscape in the Joliet region. From the volleyball court to the golf course, athletes have already begun to establish their credentials, and the results offer early indicators of how the season might unfold. Joliet Catholic’s season-opening volleyball win over Plainfield North carries particular significance. The Hilltoppers have a proud tradition, and starting the year with a hard-fought three-set victory—especially after dropping the second set—demonstrates mental toughness and resilience. The team’s ability to regroup and close out the match will serve them well as they face tougher conference opponents. Meanwhile, Lincoln-Way Central’s comeback win against Chicago Christian highlights the depth of the Knights’ roster. Ella Thompson’s efficiency (.615 hitting percentage) is a standout statistic—such precision in the early season suggests she could be a dominant force. Bella Bendoraitis’s all-around contribution (aces, assists, digs) underscores the importance of versatile players in high school volleyball. Gardner-South Wilmington’s win over Braidwood Reed-Custer, while dropping the Comets to 0-2, shows that parity exists in this league. The Comets will need to find consistency quickly to avoid falling too far behind. Wilmington’s sweep of Evergreen Park, led by Addison Billingsley’s nine digs, signals that the Wildcats have a strong defensive foundation. In a sport where serving and passing often dictate outcomes, performances like Kylie Tafoya’s two aces and seven digs are critical. Soccer action saw Providence start 2-0, a promising sign for a program aiming to build momentum. The 5-1 win over Von Steuben suggests offensive firepower, though tougher tests lie ahead. Romeoville’s scoreless draw with Metea Valley after a win on Monday indicates a team that can be stingy defensively but may need to generate more attacking chances. Plainfield Central’s 5-3 loss to Glenbard East, despite goals from three different players, exposes defensive vulnerabilities that need shoring up. Golf results often provide early-season surprises, and this week was no different. Taylor Miller’s medalist round of 37 for Plainfield East is a standout—low scores this early in the season often forecast a strong campaign. Sarah Scott’s 35 for Benet is even more impressive, especially in a dual match against Lemont. The depth of Lincoln-Way Central’s scramble teams, finishing first and second at the Andrew Invitational, speaks to the program’s strength in numbers. Meanwhile, individual efforts like Hank Lindsey’s seventh-place finish for Wilmington show that even in team losses, players can shine. Tennis saw Coal City dominate Joliet 6-1, with Melody Leman’s supertiebreaker win epitomizing the clutch play needed in close matches. The supertiebreaker format (first to 10) often rewards mental fortitude, and Leman, along with doubles partners Vanna Liebermann and Aubrey Jensen, demonstrated that quality. As the season progresses, these early results will serve as benchmarks. Teams that have started strong will aim to sustain their form, while those that stumbled will look to correct mistakes. The variety of sports—volleyball, soccer, golf, tennis—reflects the rich athletic culture in the region. With many matches still to play, the narrative is just beginning to take shape. Coaches will undoubtedly pore over these results to identify strengths and weaknesses, while fans can look forward to more thrilling contests in the weeks ahead.