From nervous freshmen to senior leaders, Cheboygan's Presley Chamberlain and Makaela Steiner recently hit volleyball milestones on the court.
CHEBOYGAN – Presley Chamberlain and Makaela Steiner had a few things in common during their first year of high school.
They both made Cheboygan’s varsity volleyball team.
They were both nervous.
They also provided comfort for each other right from the beginning.
“I’m definitely glad we had each other because I would’ve felt really left out without (Steiner), but I think that made us the leaders we are today,” Chamberlain said. “We had to learn from everybody, we weren’t used to playing with girls four years older than us, and I feel like that just makes us 10 times better leaders today.”
Steiner feels the same way.
“It was nice to have (Chamberlain) because I didn’t want to be the only freshman on the team, and when I heard that she was also being brought up, it definitely made me feel more comfortable,” Steiner said. “Playing at such a young age as a freshman with girls that are seniors, it’s stressful and it’s a lot of pressure you put on yourself to show that you’re good enough.
“All the other girls made it welcome, but I think having Presley there made it feel more at peace and more at home.”
With their final seasons with the program underway, Chamberlain and Steiner are a major reason the Chiefs (6-0-1) are off to a superb start, and they've already hit some elite milestones.
Last week, Chamberlain, a libero, made her mark by reaching 1,000 career digs during a victory at Gaylord, while Steiner, a setter, hit 2,000 career assists in the opening set of Cheboygan’s first match at the Pellston Invitational, a tournament they won last Saturday.
From traveling together on numerous bus rides, to the district title triumph they experienced together as freshmen in 2022, all the way to being senior leaders now, the volleyball adventure has been unforgettable for a duo that’s built a a special bond on the court.
“I think it definitely shows on the court the connection that we have, just playing as freshmen until now,” Steiner said. “We’ve been able to create that bond that we know how things should be on the court, we’re able to make sure things are going smoothly, and I also think other girls look towards us to run things smoothly and work with everyone as a team just because we’ve been together for so long.
“I think the connection from playing together has helped us for a long time.”
By beating Gaylord and defeating Boyne City for a tournament title, the Chiefs have all sorts of momentum as they try to chase down their goals. Just two of many in Cheboygan's talented senior class, Chamberlain and Steiner have their sights set on winning even more.
Just like those former seniors who helped them along the way when they were freshmen, Chamberlain and Steiner want to be the ones to lead and finish it all off with glory.
“(Those seniors) showed us how competitive to be,” Chamberlain said. “They were hungry for a title, and that’s kind of how we are this year. We want to go out winning titles and have a winning season."
Chamberlain, Steiner, and the Chiefs travel to Alpena for a quad match on Thursday.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan volleyball's Chamberlain, Steiner reach milestones together
Category: General Sports
