Evanston’s girls volleyball team finished the 2024 season with a 14-23 record and a playoff win. A big improvement on the 2023 campaign, where they went 4-30-20. The team looks to continue their growth into 2025 and climb the ranks of the CSL- a conference where they have not won a game since 2021.
Last year’s team featured a senior-heavy lineup, built up of girls who had been playing together for years, creating a strong core and leadership for the team.
“Last year, we had a team, and a starting lineup, that was almost all seniors,” said Head Coach Mike McDermott. “They made it their mission to stick together and improve upon their previous two seasons, and certainly achieved that goal. We will certainly miss their energy and leadership. They are an amazing bunch of people who will go on to far greater things than Evanston Volleyball.”
With the departure of 10 seniors, the Kits are turning the page and setting new goals. The new varsity lineup will feature a more balanced mix of underclassmen mixed in with the seven returning varsity players.
Senior setter Casey McDermott – who is Mike McDermott’s daughter – enters her third year on varsity and is expected to be a key leader on and off the court. She is joined by returning junior Norah Williams, who dominated as a middle last year, anchoring a strong offense. On defense, seniors Veronica Hayes and Siena Bowen return as liberos, while Azalea Steiger-Smith and Vivian Mitchell return as strong Pin positions.
While the team dynamic will inevitably shift with the loss of some veteran leadership, Casey sees it as an opportunity for others on the team to step up and grow, as athletes and as leaders.
“Losing seniors definitely changes the team dynamic, but it also opens the door for underclassmen and for us incoming seniors to step up,” commented Casey. “The younger players bring fresh energy and talent. It might take some time to build chemistry with new players, but some of us returners have already built a connection. With strong communication and teamwork, we’re confident we’ll adapt and grow stronger as a unit.”
For Coach McDermott, the ultimate goal is to elevate Evantson’s standing in the CSL.
“As a program, we have a long-term goal of being more competitive in our conference,” he said. “Putting ourselves in a position to win each match we play will be expected. This will be critical in taking the next step forward toward being a program with a championship culture.”
He emphasizes the discipline and buy-in that will be necessary to get them where they want to be.
“To compete at a higher level, we have to commit to a more disciplined approach to team culture and practice,” he added. “Once the team is selected, they will meet as a group and establish more specific goals, standards, and expectations that they can agree to strive for, abide by, and support.”
The team will look to implement their new strategies and mentality immediately in their opening game against Maine East on August 25th.
