Manteno's 25-17, 25-23 Win Ends 37-Year Title Drought
Senior Maddie Gesky led the Panthers past Aurora Central Catholic to secure the IHSA Class 2A Chicago Christian Sectional trophy.
By Aiko Nakamura ·
Boise readers may not track Illinois high school volleyball, but the Manteno Panthers just made history in a sport where long title droughts are common. On Thursday night, the Panthers broke a 37-year losing streak in sectional play by defeating Aurora Central Catholic at Chicago Christian High School.
The score was 25-17 and 25-23. Manteno had not won the IHSA Class 2A Chicago Christian Sectional since 1989. The victory capped a dramatic week for the team, which had survived a tense regional final against Wilmington just seven days earlier. That previous match ended in a three-set win after the Panthers trailed by two points in the deciding set.
Head coach Alexis Hosselton noted a shift in team demeanor compared to the regional final. She told reporters the players felt more comfortable from the moment they entered the gymnasium. Hosselton, who wore a custom light purple blazer with a pearl Panther patch, said the team was ready in a way they had not been a week prior.
The game was not without tension. Aurora Central Catholic led 19-15 in the second set. Hosselton called a timeout, and the Panthers responded with six consecutive points to close out the match. Senior Maddie Gesky was the offensive engine, recording 10 kills, five blocks, and eight digs. Her height advantage over the Chargers was a key factor in the win.
Junior Makenna Laskowski provided essential depth and leadership. Returning from a torn ACL that cost her the 2025 season, Laskowski wore a brace on her left knee during the match. She recorded five kills, eight digs, and five receptions. Teammate Leah Donnelly described Laskowski as the team's hype girl, while Gesky praised her court intelligence.
Setter Danika Fletcher, a senior who has played on varsity since her freshman year, contributed 18 assists, two aces, and nine digs. Leah Milton added four kills, four blocks, and four digs, while Morgan Derrico recorded 11 digs and nine receptions. On the losing side, Natalie Brinka had six kills and Isabel Perez had three.
The win sets up a Monday night match against Tri-Valley in Seneca. A victory there would allow Manteno to qualify for the state finals, a feat no Manteno volleyball team has achieved in the current century.
