The Fort Calhoun High School volleyball team celebrated its parents and seniors Tuesday night during the final home date on their regular season schedule.
Taylor Stewart and Jordan Faucher, the Pioneers' 12th-grade varsity players, made plays against Conestoga, but the 20-9 Cougars earned the 3-0 win — 25-11, 25-23 and 25-10. The loss dropped FCHS' season record to 8-18 overall.
In defeat, though, coach Liz Sevcik said her seniors always bring energy to the court.
“Taylor is always willing to go to the floor for a ball and take swings,” the coach explained. “She just always comes into the game with a lot of energy.”
Faucher, meanwhile, is a consistent server for the Pioneers.
“Jordan brings a level of consistent energy where she doesn't ever let the game get too high or too low on her,” Sevcik said. “She just brings that consistent energy, determination.”
After dropping the first set 25-11 Tuesday, FCHS was in contention to win the second. A Stewart kill pushed the Pioneers' late lead to 22-19.
Junior Ari Nelson's block later tied the set at 23-23 after Conestoga went on a run, but it was the last point of the set Fort Calhoun would score.
Faucher produced an ace serve during the third set, too, but the Pioneers already trailed 14-8 by that point.
Breaking each huddle with Calhoun against the Couagars was the Pioneers' third senior — Reilly Rauterkus, a four-year contributor who also competes in Unified flag football, Unified basketball and Unified track and field.
“She just loves the sport a lot,” Sevcik said. “She always enjoys when she has a chance to play, and the girls have enjoyed being able to cheer her on throughout her high school years playing volleyball.”
FCHS was scheduled to play at Logan View/Scribner-Snyder on Thursday and next competes during its Class C1 Subdistrict Tournament, which wasn't set as of press time. Matchups and locations were unknown, but tourney play does begin Monday, officially.
FCHS VOLLEYBALL LINE SCORE
Tuesday
Conestoga 3, Fort Calhoun 0
CHS (20-9) 25 25 25 — 3
FCHS (8-18) 11 23 10 — 0
