Geneva volleyball reaches state semifinals after 25-13 win

Geneva volleyball made history on Monday night by sweeping Lake Forest 25-17 and 25-13 to advance to the Class 3A state semifinals. The victory marks the first time a Geneva team has reached the state tournament in the program's nearly 50-year history. The match took place in the Class 3A Timothy Christian Supersectional in Elmhurst.

Emma Peterson, a 6-foot junior, led the Vikings with nine kills. Zoriana Malone added eight kills and two aces. The win caps a season in which the team improved on their previous year's sectional finals exit. Geneva now sits with a 30-10 record.

The team built its lead early in the first set. Geneva jumped out to a 15-4 lead on strong hitting from Peterson, Malone, and Teagan Lee. Lake Forest responded with an 8-0 run to narrow the deficit to five points. The Vikings pulled away late in the set, and a service error by Lake Forest sealed the 25-17 result.

The second set followed a similar trajectory. Geneva broke away from a 5-5 tie to establish a 16-9 advantage. Malone recorded four kills and two consecutive aces during that stretch. The Vikings reached match point at 24-13. Peterson served the final point of the match, which bounced off a Lake Forest player and out of bounds.

Coach Lauren Kosecki returned to Geneva in 2021 after playing for the Vikings in the late 2000s. She led the team to back-to-back conference and regional titles as a player. Kosecki credited the team's depth for the win, noting that no single player carried the load alone. Teagan Lee contributed four kills and a block, while Charlotte Otto recorded three kills.

Peterson said the team's foundation allows them to share responsibilities. She described the group as close and supportive. Malone echoed that sentiment, stating that the players trusted each other throughout the match. The team's collective effort was evident in the balanced scoring across both sets.

Lake Forest finished its season with a 17-18 record. It was the Scouts' best season since 2022, when they won 17 matches and captured a sectional title. Bella Goldfayn recorded four blocks for the visitors. Heather White and Vivian Whiteside each had three kills.

Geneva will face Nazareth Academy on Friday at 4 p.m. at the CEFCU Arena in Illinois State. Nazareth defeated Downers Grove North in the supersectionals. A win over Nazareth would move the Vikings into the state final. They are currently two wins away from the state championship.