Geneva Wins First Sectional Since 2016

Geneva volleyball players ended a nearly ten-year drought for a sectional championship on Thursday night. The Vikings defeated Montini, 25-23, 25-18, to claim the Class 3A St. Francis Sectional title in Wheaton. This marks the program's first sectional crown since 2016.

Emma Peterson, an outside hitter committed to Dayton University, anchored Geneva's offensive attack. She recorded 16 kills against the Broncos. Ten of those kills came in the second set, which allowed the Vikings to build a decisive lead early in that frame. Coach Lauren Kosecki noted that Peterson took over the match with disciplined play and strong leadership.

Zoriana Malone contributed five kills, while Teagan Lee added three. Lee and Ashley Copeland combined for three blocks. Geneva's serve strategy also proved effective in disrupting Montini's rhythm. Senior libero Alexis Meives recorded four aces, including three in a row that helped the Vikings open a 7-2 lead in the second set. Evelyn Ross and Charlotte Otto also served aces as part of a plan to keep the opposition off-balance.

The first set remained competitive until the final moments. Geneva held a 7-3 lead early, but Montini fought back to tie the score at 11-11 and later at 15-15. The set was tied at 23-23 before a kill by Lee and a Montini error gave Geneva the frame. Montini's offense was led by Victora Reed, who finished with seven kills, and Micaela Haggerty, who recorded six kills and two aces. Setter Avalyn DeKeyser added three kills, and middle blocker Moira Quirk had two.

Montini coach Erik Vogt stated that his team maintained a balanced attack throughout the match. He observed that his squad grew over the past four years and finished with 28 wins. This season marked Montini's first appearance in a sectional final since its 2021 state championship run. Vogt expressed confidence in the future trajectory of the program despite the loss.

For Geneva, the victory resolved a lingering frustration from the previous season. The Vikings had lost a three-set match to Nazareth Academy in the sectional finals on November 6, 2025. Peterson said the team had not stopped thinking about that game since then. Kosecki said the offseason focus was on avoiding that same feeling of falling short and that the team executed its plan effectively.

The Vikings advance to the Timothy Christian Super-Sectional tournament. They will face No. 5 Lake Forest, who holds a 17-17 record, at 6 p.m. on Monday. If Geneva wins that match, they will play the winner of the matchup between No. 1 Nazareth Academy and No. 2 Lemont in the state semifinals.