It was not the ending to the regular season that the West Prairie varsity volleyball team was looking for.
The Cyclones headed to Rushville Monday evening for a non-conference contest against host Rushville-Industry.
Facing an inspired Rocket squad on its Senior Night, the Cyclones dropped a 25-22, 20-25, 25-23 decision.
West Prairie wrapped up regular season play with a record of 19-16.
RIHS improved to 14-14. “We made a lot of unforced errors,” said West Prairie coach Drew Snyder. “And when you make more unforced errors than the other team, they’re going to find a way to beat you and that’s what they did.”
“It gives (the opposition) a ton of momentum when we’re doing things that we know we shouldn’t be doing,” said Snyder. “It gives them momentum and confidence that they can be able to take it to us, and that’s what they did.”
“We made 22 hitting, service and block fouls,” he added. “That’s a full set of points pretty much, not including the balls that hit the floor on passing, not including the balls that hit the floor when we don’t sprint back to base.”
“We have some work to do, that’s for sure.” RIHS celebrated its Senior Night, honoring its seven seniors Avery Esther, Italee Ford, Aly Hogan, Becca Lewis, Mylee Martin, Kaylee Shaw and Gabby Sorrell.
The Rocket program also took time out to recognize West Prairie seniors Alexa Barclay, Macy Branch, Melodee Ford, Abby Starbuck, Madelynn Sullivan and Kenadie Webster prior to their final regular season match.
“When you get into October, you run into Pink Nights and Senior Nights and you never know where a mindset is going to be of high school girls on those nights,” said RIHS coach Leigh Bickerman.
“It’s an emotional night for us on Senior Night, saying goodbye to our seven seniors,” she added. “I was proud of how we didn’t give up and we fought.”
The seven seniors were introduced in the starting lineup for RIHS and took the floor for the start of the match. But with Esther, Lewis and Sorrell all injured and unable to play, the trio were subbed out prior to the first point.
“I was glad, with even three of them being injured, that they were able to enjoy that home game feeling as much as we could,” said Bickerman.
“It was a hard-fought match. They’re always a very defensive team. They’re not just going to let the ball drop,” she added. “I feel like we really had to work for our points. I’m proud of our girls for not getting frustrated when things didn’t go our way. They kept working hard and found a way to come out on top.”
“There were times when our backs were against the wall and we decided to fight back instead of give up,” said Bickerman.
“I was pleased with the way the girls fought at the end,” said Snyder.
“(Rushville-Industry) made a couple of adjustments there at the end,” he added. “Defensively, I wouldn’t say that we weren't ready, but they were able to one-up us in that situation at the last point.”
Niah Zimmerman topped West Prairie with nine kills, while Alyvia Barkley and Alexa Barkley added seven kills each.
Madelynn Sullivan handed out 24 set assists.
Defensively, Abby Starbuck recorded 17 digs, while Niah Zimmerman added nine digs and Macy Branch eight digs for the Cyclones.
Starbuck also tallied nine service points with two service aces, while Kamara Zimmerman added eight service points.
The Cyclones enter Illinois High School Association Class 1A Regional play Monday at Mackinaw.
West Prairie will face Peoria Christian (1816) in a battle of the Nos. 8 and 9 sub-sectional seeds.
Monday’s first match will have top-seeded Illini Bluffs (22-3) facing Bushnell-Prairie City.
The two winners will play in Wednesday’s first semifinal.
“Anything can happen,” said Snyder. “Volleyball is a crazy game. This team has shown a lot of really good bounce back throughout most of the season and their ability to come back after tough losses or not doing well and refocusing.”
“I’m very confident that they’ll be able to do that.”
Devin Vogler finished with 10 kills, 22 digs and three service aces for RIHS.
Martin added eight kills and two service aces, while Shaw chipped in four kills, 18 digs and two service aces.
Ford handed out 20 set assists, while recording 21 digs and three kills.
In the JV match, West Prairie wrapped up its season with a 25-18, 25-14 victory.
The Cyclone JV finished the season with a final record of 19-3.
