Kellenberg girls win CHSAA state volleyball crown
Kellenberg poses after winning the CHSAA state girls volleyball championship on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015.
Strong alone, unstoppable together.
The four simple words became a rallying cry on the Kellenberg girls volleyball team's T-shirts in August when winning a state championship was just a "dream," said coach Cathy Von Schoenermarck.
On Saturday, that dream became a reality after Kellenberg went undefeated in pool play followed by a 25-21, 24-26, 25-17, 25-23 victory over Fontbonne Hall Academy (Brooklyn) in the CHSAA state final at St. Anthony's High School.
"These are the memories you never lose," Von Schoenermarck said. "They are the memories that can never be taken away."
Von Schoenermarck credited the former players who never won a title as well -- calling it a "tribute" to the girls who put "blood, sweat and tears on the floor and came up short and just didn't get to that level."
But on Saturday, it was all about the Firebirds. Kellenberg went 11-1 on the day with its only loss coming in the second set of the championship. Seniors Kate Calabro (25 kills, 12 digs), Tori Moulder (19 kills, eight blocks) and Tina Ceriello (16 digs) led the senior-laden team in the championship match. Twelve of Kellenberg's 16 players are seniors.
The championship match wasn't easy for Kellenberg. The Firebirds dropped the second set and trailed in the fourth before rallying back to win as the strong local crowd and junior Megan Pfundstein's 61 assists helped the Firebirds prevail.
"The dream only became a reality because every one of them bought into it," Von Schoenermarck said.
Strong alone, unstoppable together.
