Latin School of Chicago’s girls volleyball team had a veteran team this season — and the experience paid big dividends.
Thanks to a starting lineup that included all but one player from the year before, the Romans stormed to a 17-0 start, a final 28-4 record and an IHSA 3A Regional championship.
“We brought back an experienced team, so we set the bar pretty high going into the year,” said assistant coach Deb Sampey, who has helped coach the team since 1986.
“It was one of the better teams we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
Among the standouts was sophomore outside hitter Catie Cronister, who named Independent School League Player of the Year.
The team finished undefeated in the Independent School League and played competitively against bigger schools, including perennial Downstate power Champaign Centennial High School.
The Romans’ run ended in the sectional semifinal, when they lost to rival Walter Payton Prep.
Latin will return four starters next season: Cronister, Taylor Kmety, Alexa Markman and Isabel Sessions.
And Sampey said she expects the team to set the bar even higher.
“We have hopes for another big run, hopefully into the next round,” Sampey said.
“These girls just keep getting better.”
