The Bushnell-Prairie City High School varsity volleyball team found itself in rarely charted territory Tuesday evening.
Having defeated Peoria Heights 25-21 in set two of their match at B-PC, the Spartans were heading to a third set.
But the visiting Patriots regained their bearings. controlling the deciding set on the way to notching a 25-14, 21-25, 25-14 Prairieland Conference crossover victory It was the first win for Peoria Heights (1-5), while B-PC dropped to 0-5.
B-PC had lost 33 consecutive sets, dating back to Oct. 11 last year. Facing host Beardstown in the 10th annual Lady Tiger Volleyball Classic, the Spartans won the opening set 25-23.
Unfortunately for B-PC, the Tigers rallied to win the final two sets and the match.
B-PC had not won a set since, until the second set of Tuesday’s contest.
But after claiming the second set, the third set played out much like the opening set where Peoria Heights built a sizable lead and maintained control the rest of the way.
“We looked like we couldn’t keep up in that third set,” said B-PC coach Chloe Hickle. “We looked like we were dead tired.”
“I don’t think they played as a team in that first set at all,” she added. “In that third set, it was a little bit like we didn’t play as a team, but we played like we were supertired. We were just over it.”
“It’s a mental block,” Hickle stated. “I try to get them out of digging that hole, because we can never dig our way out.”
Since 2022, the program has just three victories in its last 115 matches.
“It’s hard,” said Hickle. “I can try to teach the skill and we have the skill. But I can’t get into their brain and break that block.”
Stats leaders for B-PC included the following: Brynlee Beekman – 4 kills, 2 service aces, 12 digs and 10 set assists Kendyl McCleery – 2 kills, 2 solo blocks and 9 digs Triniti Williams – 2 kills and 6 digs Jules Kreps – 2 kills and 5 digs Justice Klinedinst – 6 kills, 3 service aces and 7 digs Amelia Carley – 5 digs Mylee Chenoweth – 26 digs and 2 set assists Hazel Farwell – 2 digs State leaders for B-PC in its 25-9, 25-17 loss to United included the following: Beekman – 3 kills, 3 digs and 3 set assists Carley – 2 digs McCleery – 2 digs Kreps – 5 digs Klinedinst – 5 digs Chenoweth 19 digs and 2 set assists The team played at Galva on Wednesday and was slated to return to Bushnell to host North Fulton on Thursday.
B-PC will then host Farmington on Sept. 14 before returning to Prairieland South Division play on Sept. 15, hosting West Prairie.
Kendyl McCleery pass
