Mya Donnelly Shines as Leader for Lincoln-Way Central Volleyball

Two years ago, Mya Donnelly began her high school volleyball journey as a freshman on Lincoln-Way Central’s varsity team. She absorbed wisdom from the senior players, and now, as a 5-foot-11 junior outside hitter, she shares her knowledge with younger teammates. Freshman Erin Sammon and sophomores Leah Freiberg, Madison Rademacher, Tessa Garcia, and Zoey Terrell have joined the varsity ranks, and Donnelly is eager to guide them.

“I had girls who were leaders for me, and now I get to lead the underclassmen,” Donnelly said. “It’s a lot of fun doing that. I put myself in their shoes and know how I felt on varsity. I was so scared.”

Donnelly is now a formidable opponent. In Tuesday’s nonconference game against Class 2A’s Chicago Christian, she excelled with 11 kills, particularly dominating in the second game, which helped secure a 14-25, 25-14, 25-20 victory. Ella Thompson added seven kills, while Terrell contributed four aces. Garcia and Isabella Bendoraitis provided support with 11 and 10 assists respectively. For Chicago Christian, Quinn Grevengoed led with 12 kills.

After a difficult 11-point loss in the first set, Donnelly found her rhythm. She scored three kills in a four-point sequence, propelling Lincoln-Way Central into an 8-5 lead, and they maintained control afterward. “Something just clicked with me, and I knew I had to go out there with leadership and confidence,” Donnelly stated. “Hitting down the line is my big thing. That’s what I can do the best.”

Bendoraitis also excelled at the service line with six consecutive points, including three aces, to close out the second game. In the deciding set, Thompson led with four kills, and Terrell added three aces, two kills, and a block.

The first game struggles were evident. “In the first set, we weren’t connecting that well as a team,” Donnelly noted. “We had a hard time with our serve-receive. But after that, we started playing really well and our bench was loud.” Despite losing many seniors, the team’s future looks promising.

Donnelly’s performance in the second game was pivotal in the team’s comeback. “Mya did great the second set and she’s the reason we won the second and the third,” Bendoraitis said. “She probably has the best swing on the team.”

Lincoln-Way Central’s coach, Amy Bernhard, acknowledged initial nerves but noted improvement in sets by Bendoraitis and Garcia, which allowed hitters like Donnelly to excel. “Mya got on a run, and she can be wonderful for us when her sets are there,” Bernhard said. Despite not being a senior, Donnelly is viewed as a leader.

Donnelly’s volleyball journey began in second grade after trying cheerleading. “I absolutely hated cheerleading, so my mom signed me up for something new,” she shared. Embracing teamwork is central to her love for volleyball. “Being close on and off the court with my teammates helps mentally,” she said. “It’s fun. You have a team culture. You get to show what you can do.”