The 2026 season for the Bushnell- Prairie City High School volleyball team ended Monday evening with a 25-14, 25-13 loss to Barry Western in an Illinois High School Association Class 1A Regional opening round contest at Liberty.
Barry Western entered as the No. 2 sub-sectional seed. B-PC, the No. 15 sub-sectional seed, saw its season end with a final record of 1-28.
“It was a hard fought match and we put up a good fight,” said second year B-PC coach Chloe Hickle..
Statistics for the Spartans included the following: Brynlee Beekman – 8 set assists, 3 kills and 4 digs Kendyl McCleery – 4 kills, 3 digs Justice Klinedinst – 5 kills, 11 digs, 1 service ace and 1 set assist Mylee Chenoweth – 13 digs, 3 set assists, 1 kill and 1 service ace Jules Kreps – 4 digs Hazel Farwell – 1 block and 1 dig Bailey Joiner – 1 dig Aubrey English – 1 dig “Over these last two years of coaching this program, I have seen tremendous growth in these girls,” said Hickle. “Not just in their volleyball skills, but in their confidence, determination, teamwork, and understanding of the game.”
“When I look back at where we started compared to where we are today, I couldn’t be more proud,” she added. “And the best part is, the improvement isn’t just something I see as their coach. Our statistics prove it.”
“When we compare our numbers from last season to this season, the growth is tremendous,” Hickle continued. “We are competing at a completely different level than we were before, and that is something worth recognizing and celebrating.”
Hickle noted that the team’s improvement has been noticed by others outside the program as well.
“I’ve had opposing coaches, players, and even parents come up to me throughout this season to tell me how much Bushnell volleyball has improved,” said Hickle. “To me, that speaks volumes. People are noticing the hard work they are putting in, the progress they are making, and the direction this program is heading.”
“Losing is frustrating. Trust me, I want to win just as badly as everyone else,” she added. “But I also know that building a successful program doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, patience, dedication, and a group of athletes who are willing to keep showing up and working hard, even when the results aren’t always what they want.”
“Success comes in so many different forms,” Hickle continued. “It’s the sets we pushed to the very end, the plays we made that we couldn’t have made a year ago, the confidence we’ve gained, and the moments when we proved to ourselves that we can compete.”
Also during Monday’s opening night, No. 7 seed Payson-Seymour defeated No. 10 seed Camp Point Central 25-21, 25-19.
Central finished the season with a final record of 7-23.
Tuesday’s opening round contest saw No. 3 seed Liberty defeat No. 14 seed Griggsville-Perry/Meredosia- Chambersburg 25-7, 25-13 before No. 6 seed Rushville-Industry edged No. 11 seed Brown County 25-23, 25-23.
Griggsville-Perry/Meredosia- Chambersburgfinished the season with a final record of 2-24, while Brown County ended its season with a final record of 10-17.
Wednesday’s semifinals at Liberty saw Barry Western edge Payson-Seymour 25-16, 23-25, 25-22 before Rushville-Industry toppled Liberty 25-22, 27-25.
It was the third win for RIHS against Liberty in four meetings this season.
Payson-Seymour finished its season with a final record of 14-21, while Liberty finished 24-7).
Barry Western (26-6) faced Rushville- Industry (20-12) Thursday evening for the title with the winner advancing to Class 1A Sectional play next week at Concord Triopia.
Barry Western was attempting to win its first regional title since 2007, while RIHS was attempting to capture its first regional title since 2005.
