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‘All very talented’: Meet the new vanguard at Rochester for the 2023 volleyball season

Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal- Register
·4 min read

ROCHESTER — This is their time.

Rochester seniors Ellie Gegen and Charlotte Beatty have long been fixtures on the varsity floor.

Gegen, in particular, surfaced as far back as freshman year in the shortened 2021 spring season that ended with the Central State Eight Conference volleyball tournament in lieu of the regular IHSA playoffs.

The stellar outside hitter chipped in key contributions in the Rockets’ CS8 final against Normal University to help cement the unblemished 18-0 season.

“She's always been a key player,” Rochester coach Kallie Green said of Gegen, “but it's her first year where she can say, 'Hey, I'm a senior. I can be a leader.' It's her time to lead and she's doing great.”

Rochester's Ellie Gegen celebrates the three-set victory over Taylorville during a nonconference volleyball match at the Rochester Athletic Complex on Monday, August 21, 2023. Rochester won 19-25, 25-21, 25-13.
Rochester's Ellie Gegen celebrates the three-set victory over Taylorville during a nonconference volleyball match at the Rochester Athletic Complex on Monday, August 21, 2023. Rochester won 19-25, 25-21, 25-13.

History of success

Rochester’s senior class could skip the formal greeting process.

Their chemistry took root before high school.

They actually earned second place in the Illinois Elementary School Association 7-4A state finals in 2019, only losing to nearby Franklin Middle School in the championship. Their ensuing eighth-grade year was nixed by the coronavirus.

“It's a lot of fun to work with our senior class just because we've all played together for so long,” Beatty said. “I feel like we have a really good bond together as a team, which is not something you can say for a lot of classes out there even. It's really fun playing with all of them. They're all very talented girls.”

More: Here are the Springfield area's high school volleyball players to know for 2023

That senior corps includes hitters Camdyn Clarke, Grace Jameson and libero Sydney Dulin to name a few. They will collectively help fill the shoes left by former standouts Kaylen Reed, Emma Dixon and Ella Teeter.

Beatty previously shared time with Teeter as a setter in the 6-2 rotation but now solely retains the position in the 5-1.

“It's definitely a lot more pressure just because the team kind of depends and relies on you for a lot of things,” Beatty said. ”But I'm loving it so far. I like being kind of a leader of the team, and I really love this team.

“It's kind of new to me. I've kind of been a bystander on most of my teams, I would say. But so far I’m loving the leadership position.”

Rochester's Charlotte Beatty attempts to save the ball during a nonconference volleyball match against Tayloville at the Rochester Athletic Complex on Monday, August 21, 2023. Rochester won 19-25, 25-21, 25-13.
Rochester's Charlotte Beatty attempts to save the ball during a nonconference volleyball match against Tayloville at the Rochester Athletic Complex on Monday, August 21, 2023. Rochester won 19-25, 25-21, 25-13.

Formidable duo

Beatty and Gegen seem especially inseparable.

They also play soccer together and routinely attend the same classes.

Beatty — whose older brother, Hank, is a wide receiver on the University of Illinois football team — doled out eight goals and six assists en route to the 2A sectional finals against eventual state champion Chatham Glenwood.

“She's a Beatty,” Green said. “She's athletic. She makes good choices. We have a really fast, high-tempo offense just because we're kind of short. We don't have any giants, so we've got to be fast, we've got to be smart and we've got to be quick. She gets that done for us.”

More: Here are the Springfield area's top 10 high school volleyball teams for the 2023 season

Last fall, Beatty produced 336 assists, 218 digs and 131 kills while also contributing as a right-side hitter to help lift the Rockets to a third straight Class 3A regional crown.

She opened the 2023 season with 25 assists, three aces and two blocks in a 19-25, 25-21, 25-13 nonconference win over 2022 state finalist Taylorville.

“We are so lucky to have someone as passionate and as technically sound as Charlotte,” Gegen said. “Every day she does something insane and hopefully I don't hit it out of bounds.”

Gegen ushered 213 kills, 89 digs and 40 aces alongside two-time SJ-R all-area pick Emma Dixon last season. She led the team with eight kills in the three-set win over the Tornadoes.

“It's the best environment I've ever been able to enjoy during a practice or during a game,” Gegen said. “Everyone is so happy to be here. Everyone knows they would rather be on that court than anywhere else and you can really tell the energy. I love this team so much.”

Contact Bill Welt: 788-1545, bill.welt@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/BillWelt

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: IHSA volleyball: Rochester seniors assume lead roles for 2023