A hearty audience turned out Tuesday night for the Blair High School volleyball team's final home match of the regular season against Class B No. 10 Seward.
“It was a really awesome crowd,” Bears coach Jess Lansman said. “Shoutout to Blair for showing up for us. That means a lot and I know it means a lot to the girls.”
The supporters witnessed a 3-0 loss to the Bluejays (25-5 overall), but one with plenty of good signs showing through, the coach noted.
“It was a lot of positive energy and a great first set we had against them,” Lansman explained. “They're a very good team, but I think we showed a lot of good things tonight against them.”
The Bears (16-15) started all four of their seniors — Hailey Roewert, Nicki Wendt, Taylor Mostek and Hayden Frink-Mathis — in the final first home set of their careers. Collectively with their teammates, they secured a quick 9-4 lead before the match's first timeout. Andi Hume notched a kill at 1-1 before Madeline Chikos' pulled the match even at 2-2.
Mostek's block later produced a 5-4 BHS advantage before the Bluejays opted to slow down the match with a brief break.
Once back on the floor, Seward battled back, but the Bears kept pace. Hume blocks evened the match at both 12-12 and 17-17 before her kill evened the first-set score at 18-all.
“Andi's a great blocker,” Lansman said. “She's come a long way.”
The junior didn't begin the fall season as a starter, but earned her role there.
“She worked her way into that spot just because of how disciplined she is as a blocker,” Lansman explained. “I feel like that truly proved it tonight.”
Hume finished the first set, unofficially, with three kills and three blocks, but the Bluejays won it, 25-19.
Blair earned a second-set lead, too, before losing 25-17. The home team built a 4-1 advantage with a Roewert kill at 2-0 before a Wendt spike hit the numbers on the front of a Seward player's jersey.
From there, though, the road team seized control and held off the Bears for a 2-0 advantage. It would later complete the sweep, too, even though Chikos' service ace produced another 2-0 lead, and Wendt's block pulled the home squad within 19-17.
Eventually, the Bluejays were able to finish off the match with a 25-18 third set — the final set for Roewert, Wendt, Mostek and Frink-Mathis on their home floor.
“They have been a huge part of Blair volleyball,” Lansman said.
Mostek started all four years, while Roewert and Wendt have been consistent contributors since their sophomore seasons.
Frink-Mathis has played her part throughout her four years, too.
“Hayden is such an amazing leader, vocally and just at the school,” Lansman added.
After the match, the seniors sat alongside their teammates and signed autographs for kids in the crowd Tuesday night.
“We will miss them deeply,” Lansman said.
The Bears were scheduled to close out their regular season schedule Thursday at Lincoln Northwest before Tuesday's start to the Class B District 1 Tournament at Elkhorn North. Official matchups and start times were unavailable as of press time.
BHS VOLLEYBALL LINE SCORE
Tuesday
No. 10 Seward 3, Blair 0
SHS (25-5) 25 25 25 — 3
BHS (16-15) 19 17 18 — 0
