While the girls volleyball season may not have ended the way they had hoped, with a super-sectional final exit to reigning state champions. Benet Academy, the team earned a 29-7 and captured a sectional title, leaving the team in relative positive spirits amongst the loss.

“Despite the ending, everyone was still proud of our accomplishments this year and our effort throughout the season. I love this program and couldn’t have asked for anything else,” senior captain and hitter Ana Vetter said.

The efforts from the team landed it the Central Suburban League regular season title and Discovery Tournament title hosted by Glenbrook North High School. Vetter and junior libero Lauren Cortina were both named to the all-tournament team.

In the postseason, the Trevians handled the regional championship by defeating Niles North High School in straight sets. For the sectional championship, New Trier took down Maine South High School in straight sets in the semifinals before besting the host of the sectional and conference rival Glenbrook South High School in a three-set thriller to win the sectional title, the program’s first in five years.

“Ana is like one of my sisters and the team will really miss her and the seniors next year. They all did a great job leading us and nobody was too big for the team,” Cortina said.

At times, high school teams may suffer from division one athletes’ lack of commitment in the season due to future plans after the year. But the Trevians really played for each other, as the team’s chemistry was on display every game.

The Trevs possessed two division one commits this year, with Ana Vetter playing collegiate volleyball at Wake Forest University and Alex Belak playing beach volleyball at the College of Charleston next fall.

Girls volleyball avenges early-season loss to Niles West

Trevian volleyball stays hot against GBN

New Trier Boys Volleyball makes a run for State

“To see Alex’s effort throughout the year even though her main sport is beach volleyball really inspired me and the rest of the team to do our part,” Cortina said.

For senior captain and three-year varsity player Belak, deciding whether to continue playing indoor volleyball was especially tough considering her future on the beach.

“My sophomore year I was debating on not playing high school at all, but after talking with the high school coaches, they convinced me that the high school season would give me amazing memories with the best team. I don’t regret playing high school, I’ve made friends that will always be there for me. We are like a family,” Belak said.

Belak pointed out that indoor volleyball is much more teamwork-based compared to beach volleyball, so it was more of an adjustment switching over. But it wasn’t much of an issue for Belak with the team’s unique connection that has been built up over the years, with past sisters of players having played for New Trier.

Vetter has been coming to games for years watching her friends’ sisters, and she has shared that experience with them now in high school.

“The coaches’ generational impact that they have had for so many years has gone through multiple generations of families and sisters who have gone through the program,” Vetter said.

Belak and Vetter join a long list of collegiate girls volleyball players for the Trevians, with the program producing 14 division one players in the last six years.

Belak, Vetter and the senior class leave the program in a great state.

“Just because we’re graduating doesn’t mean we won’t be supporting them in the future,” Vetter said.