NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTOS BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior Stella Zmolek earns a kill against Gilbert.

Before a packed STC high school gym, the 2026 STC volleyball team officially began their season on Thursday, August 27, when they hosted Gilbert. Their promising season got off to a strong start, as the Trojans took the match from the Tigers, 3-1.

In the first game of the match, Gilbert jumped out to leads of 6-1 and 18-6. STC found it difficult to get any traction and the Tigers pulled away to a 25-10 victory.

But from that point on, the match was all Trojans. In game #2, senior Paisley Bro set the tone right away with commanding kills that gave STC a 1-0 lead, and then tied the score at 2-2. After a kill by junior Stella Zmolek gave STC an 8-4 lead, the Tigers called a timeout shortly after to regroup. But the Trojans continued to push the lead to 14-6 and, later, 19-10. STC junior Shelby Johannsen put the game away with a kill that gave the Trojans a 25-14 victory.

In game #3, STC went out to a 5-2 lead but Gilbert came roaring back to take a 7-6 lead.

But after back to back points on a Bro kill, and a block by junior Maylee Rucker, the Trojans retook the lead, 9-7. The two teams fought back and forth to a 11-11 tie before STC went on a 5-0 run capped off by a Zmolek kill. Gilbert called a timeout to stop the momentum, but the Trojans continued to pull ahead and won the game, 25-17, on an ace by junior Sydney Arp.

STC junior Kenzi Boriskey pushes the ball over against Gilbert.

In the final game of the evening, Gilbert jumped out to a 10-7 lead. But STC went on a run to take a 12-10 lead midway through the game. After an ace by Johannsen, the Trojans increased their lead to 17-12. Gilbert cut the lead to as close as 18-16, but two aces by junior Scout Ridout, and kills by Rucker and senior Kenzi Boriskey, helped STC pull away to a 25-18 win to secure the overall match, 3 games to 1.

After the match, Bro was recognized as earning her 500th career kill for the Trojans. Bro earned first team all-WaMaC honors last season as a junior.

Following the victory against Gilbert, the Trojans traveled to Grinnell on Saturday, August 29, to participate in the Grinnell Invite. There, STC gained victories against Mount Pleasant and Decorah. They also dropped matches against three rated teams: Solon, Ballard, and CCA. After the opening six matches of the season, STC’s record stood at 3-3.

Up next for the Trojans will be a trip to Conrad for the BCLUW Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 5. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, STC will travel to CCA for a rematch against the Clippers. The Trojan’s next home match will be on Tuesday, Sept. 22, when they host Grinnell.

STC junior Scout Ridout competes against Gilbert.

STC junior Layla Pansegrau (14) sets up her teammate, junior Shelby Johannsen (6), against Gilbert.

STC junior Maylee Rucker pushes the ball over against Gilbert.

STC senior Paisley Bro earns a kill against Gilbert. Bro recorded her 500th career kill in the match.