MERRILLVILLE – Though there were no seniors on the 2023 Andrean High School softball squad, key individuals rose to the challenge of leadership for a team players said was special from the start.
The 59ers finished as state runners-up, wrapping a 29-8 season with a 3-0 loss to the North Posey Vikings of Poseyville, in the Indiana High School Athletic Association championship on June 9 on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette.
Meeting for a ring-sizing with a jewelry company representative at the Merrillville school, players gathered with retiring 11-year coach Glenn Eisfelder to reflect on the historic season, and a sense that most of the team’s goals were accomplished.
“I’ll never forget all of the girls that came here and left and became successful. This is a smaller school … they use the word ‘family,’ and it’s truly indicative of what Andrean stands for,” said Eisfelder, known as “Coach Ice,” for frequent use of the acronym ICE representing “Intensity, Confidence and Enthusiasm.”
The Fighting 59ers amassed an 8-2 Northwest Crossroads Conference record and had a white-hot streak defeating No. 10 ranked Illiana Christian 3-1 in sectionals, before blanking No. 3 Hebron 5-0 in regionals and then-defending state champions Eastside 7-0 at semi-state.
Then-junior ace pitcher Abbey Bond posted a 1.22 earned run average on the season. However, she said teamwork has been a real blessing.
“I don’t really pay attention to those stats because what is important is team first. Winning is obviously important, too,” said Bond.
This season’s hashtags such as #setthetone and #eliteSTUDENTathletes are representative of the legacy the girls believe they are renewing for the program that made its first state finals appearance in 11 years.
Bond said, “The atmosphere with the girls this year was really good; we really bonded well.”
The Voliva sisters confirmed that the team is made up of actual family members, as well as a close sisterhood of student athletes.
“It’s easier for us to push one another; she can say things to me that I wouldn’t expect to hear from anybody else,” said Maggie Voliva, a sophomore last season who played a utility role.
“We’re just really supportive of one another, as well as super competitive,” explained first baseman Libby Voliva, who is one grade ahead of her sister, but about a year and a half older. “Libby has always been more than just another player.”
Looking to the future, the 59ers are confident, in part, because of the young talent that rose to the occasion this year. Then-freshman Sadie Drousias chose to attend Andrean over the public school in her hometown of Cedar Lake.
“I wanted something different from my old school,” said Drousias. “I mainly came here for sports and a good education.”