Kenosha St. Joseph Honors Long Time Coach at Home Match Thursday Night
The atmosphere at Kenosha St. Joseph on Thursday night was electric yet solemn as they honored Ellen Santarelli, a past coach, and teacher for the school who passed away from complications of Leukemia in 2010. Ellen was a beloved volleyball coach, softball coach and mentor for many students, including for the current JV coach at St. Joseph.
The school presented a framed jersey to the family on Thursday night before the varsity warm-ups began. A plaque on the wall of the gym was unveiled to commemorate her amazing contribution to the school and all of the lives Ellen touched.
When you walked into the gym all you could see was orange, the color representing Leukemia awareness. From the socks and warm up shirts the players wore to banners along the wall to the crowd, it was a sea of orange to celebrate her life. Even the opposing team, Martin Luther, wore orange ribbons in their hair and on their shoes in a show of support.
The Lancers went on to sweep Martin Luther in their match, the truest honor that could be given to Ellen as she is said to have been a fierce competitor. It was a well-fought match on both sides; however, the Lancers played near flawless volleyball.
This wasn’t a night for stats or individual accomplishment, but one that revolved around teamwork and the enjoyment of a game Ellen loved so much. The Lancers played awesome volleyball, from their strong offense to their quick coverage to their solid and impenetrable defense.
St. Joseph’s is now 3-1 in conference and has an overall record of 16-8. Their starting lineup consisted of players from freshmen to seniors who played well together and covered each other like a team that has been playing together for years. This match was truly played for Ellen with fierce competition on both sides of the net.
Senior Andi Hubli led the Lancers in the backcourt, contributing numerous digs, service receptions, and just solid leadership for the team. Junior Marlena Moore currently leads the Lancers in kills and senior Haley Esposito leads the team in assists. This dynamic team has a lot to offer the volleyball world, both as individuals and as a cohesive unit.