Senior outsides lead deep Trevians’ roster that wants another shot at state

New Trier girls volleyball showed some things in their home opener on Tuesday — or did they?

Don’t get too comfortable with the rotation Trevians coach Hannah Hsieh put on the court in a victory over Warren on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Hsieh and company are still learning how the pieces — experienced and talented as they may be — fit together.

“Give us about two months, and we’ll see,” Hsieh said with a laugh. “They are great kids and always coming in ready to work. I can’t complain as a coach.”

Figuring out the optimal lineup is the blessing and the curse of having a deep roster, which for New Trier includes seven seniors, most of whom played vital roles as the Trevians won conference and sectional titles.

The depth was on display in Tuesday’s 25-13, 25-22 victory over Warren, when four Trevians — Kit Kat McGregor, Calia Cremascoli, Emma McHatten and Lily Long — had at least 4 kills. McGregor and Cremascoli led the way with 5 apiece. Senior libero Elizabeth Hall chipped in 3 aces, while Long had 2.

New Trier opened its season with a three-set win over Libertyville on Aug. 26.

With seven combined years of varsity experience, McGregor (a Georgetown recruit) and McHatten (Presbyterian College) lead the group as co-captains. The outside hitters, as well as Long, may also swing from the right side this season — making up for a significant part of Hsieh’s rotation lineup puzzle from match to match.

“All three of those senior pin hitters are practicing for both positions,” Hsieh said. “We want that flexibility. Because all three of them are practicing outside and right side, it is an easy switch we can do. They all are versatile.”

Though she is in her fourth varsity season, McHatten has missed a lot of time with injuries. She’s glad to be healthy to start her senior year and is embracing her leadership role, “trying to support the younger girls” and “bring a lot of effort and community.”

But just being on the court is enough too.

“Once you are back on the court with, basically, your family, it’s like the best feeling in the whole wide world. We’re just all so close and missing out is the hardest thing,” McHatten said.

Feeding McHatten, McGregor and company on Tuesday were a variety of setters. Senior Rachel Kelly and junior Abbie Ha started in a 6-2 formation in the first set, and sophomore Sophia Farina ran a 5-1 in the second set.

Having three trained setters is a break from recent history for the Trevians, who had to adjust on the fly the past couple of years when injuries and other complications limited their setting options.

“Being able to run middle (hitters) is always a little harder with girls who haven’t trained as setters, so we haven’t utilized our middles as well as we could have,” Hsieh said. “Hopefully that’s something we can take advantage of.”

Filling those middle roles are Cremascoli, a junior who saw varsity time last season; Sonja Keneally, a senior; and Grace O’Rourke, a junior; and Anna Capocchi, a junior — all of whom are listed at 5-foot-11 or taller.

Hall and Lauren Cortina, both seniors, are returning defensive specialists who Hsieh said “both should be on the floor.” Hall is a Holy Cross commit and Cortina a UCLA commit.

Though the Trevians’ 2023 had some bumps in the road, New Trier went unbeaten (10-0) in the Central Suburban South and carried a 14-match winning streak one game short of the state finals.

Hsieh said a lot of this year’s team was present for that excitement, and they want more of it.

“I think the girls want to go further than we went last season,” she said. “The girls have their sights set on experiencing state, and while that’s a goal every year, the girls see it as a possibility if we get better and tighten up things and the fact that we have an evenly spread distribution from attacks all over; we’re not reliant on one position.”

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