Columbus East High School

Senior Night in the Orange Pit turned into a night to remember for the Columbus East volleyball team. The Olympians dug deep and delivered a gritty five-set win over Madison, taking down the Cubs 25-27, 25-20, 20-25, 25-20, 15-7 in front of an energized home crowd. The evening began with a pregame tribute to East’s four seniors — Lilah Klei, Chloe Gill, Anika Jenkins, and Chandler Harris, a former player now assisting with the freshman squad. Once the ceremony ended, the focus turned to competition, and the Olympians made sure the celebration carried over to the court. After the teams traded the first two sets, Madison edged ahead by taking the third, putting East in a must-win position. The Olympians responded with urgency, shaking off a slow start in the fourth to swing momentum their way. A key scoring run midway through the set helped East build a cushion and send the match to a decisive fifth frame. That final set belonged entirely to the home team. The Olympians surged out to an 8-3 lead and never looked back, keeping the Cubs on their heels and sealing the win with a burst of energy fitting for the occasion. Klei powered the offense with 15 kills, four blocks, and three aces, while Gill added 10 kills, 10 digs, and three aces. Payten Osborn set the tone at the net with 23 assists and three aces, and Kenlee Gault chipped in 16 assists. Defensively, Krea Martin anchored the back row with 22 digs, and Addy Dean contributed 10 kills and six blocks. Jenkins added four blocks in a strong showing at the net. The victory gave the senior class a night they won’t forget — one defined by teamwork, determination, and a crowd that never stopped cheering. The Olympians close out the regular season on Thursday night (10/9) when they host the Roncalli Royals in the Orange Pit. JV start time 6 p.m., varsity match to follow.