St. Charles East girls volleyball coach Jennie Kull won’t complain that her 500th career victory at the school arrived sooner than she expected.
With four key players back from last season’s Class 4A sectional semifinalist, the Saints finished 31-7 this season. St. Charles East’s season ended in a two-game loss to St. Charles North in a Class 4A Geneva Sectional semifinal.
“I’m definitely pleased with how well we did this season,” Kull said. “Our chemistry was outstanding and they really got along and liked each other.”
The five-senior class — Emily Vitel, Carly Jimenez, Carly Matthews, Ashley Bullock and Dana Voltolina — led the Saints to a pair of victories over Geneva and defeated two-time defending Class 4A champion Benet. St. Charles East was part of trio of teams from the area that had successful seasons. St. Charles North (31-6) advanced the farthest in the playoffs in school history, losing to Geneva in the Class 4A Geneva Sectional final.
Geneva (29-10) lost to New Trier in the St. Charles East Supersectional on Saturday, but won its first sectional title in program history.
“It was kind of a bummer losing to St. Charles North because we beat Geneva twice in the regular season,” Kull said. “It’s also frustrating because our sectional was very difficult with several quality teams.”
Kull called her 500th victory at St. Charles East a special moment in her coaching career. The Saints defeated Wheaton Warrenville South in the Autumnfest tournament held at Glenbard East High School for her 500th. Kull just completed her 17th year coaching at St. Charles, and roamed the sidelines as an assistant at Indiana University, University of Louisville and Champaign Central during her 26-year career. She guided the Saints to a state title in 2001 (Class AA) and 2008 (Class 4A), and a third-place trophies in Class 4A in 2007 and 2011.
“I guess we’ve had great kids and great coaches helping me,” Kull said. “I’ve been blessed to have great people around me.”
