New season, new faces, same goal: Sacred Heart Volleyball Preview 2025
By: Isabelle Nussbaum
2025 Sacred Heart Volleyball Team: (photo taken by Nussbaum Photography) (front row, L-R) Juniors Alise Reschke, Hallie Jones, Emersyn Courtney, Seniors Brookelyn Bebermeyer and Daycee Witt, Juniors Isabelle Nussbaum and Dorothy Crouse. (middle row, L-R) Freshmen Brynlie Jones, Josie Bletscher, Rachel Bauman, Junior Justice Smith, Sophomore Ryann Westengaard, Junior Kenzee Ralston, Freshman Bailey Lemerond. (back row, L-R) Freshmen Ceejay Tisdel, Macy Taft, Payton Georges, Kinley Lechtenberg, Kemper Sipple, Lena Delaney, Stella Waller, Ava Bletscher, and Brooklyn Fletcher.
Last season, the Lady Irish faced a devastating defeat while hosting the 2024 Sub-District volleyball matches. The Irish faced a common rival, the HTRS Titans. Unfortunately, the Lady Irish lost the match in four sets putting an end to their season just short of the state tournament. The team finished with a record of 15-17.
With last season in the team’s rear-view mirror, the team is working with great effort to succeed last year’s outcome and punch their ticket to the state tournament and the final goal: Championship Saturday. The Class of 2025 graduated some key players to the volleyball team; Jentry Lechtenberg, Destry Groth, Annika Reschke, Addison Keller, and Adisen Fischer. This year, there are several returning starters as well as plenty of new players. The roster consists of two seniors, seven juniors, one sophomore, and twelve freshmen. The team has more bodies than in year’s past, but all that means is more players willing to show up and work hard for the team. “We have 23 wonderful girls who are filling out a select few roles,” Head Coach Emma Ebel stated, “we have a depth of bench that we haven’t seen in a long time.” Ebel also believes that the bench is going to contribute to the all-around success of the team.
This season the team’s motto is, “Sometimes you, sometimes me, always us.” This motivates that player to always keep hustling, being positive, and trying their best. It creates a mentality that everything that a person does is for the team as a whole. It also works on acceptance and understanding that each teammate contributes to the team’s success. “My overall goal is always to build better people, both on and off the floor,” Ebel said. “Other goals this season would be maintaining a winning record and ultimately making it back to state and back to the championship Saturday.”
