The Fort Calhoun volleyball team earned one last set win Monday before the end of its fall campaign.
Coach Sarah Rangel said her team played its best match in the season finale, falling 3-1 to West Point-Beemer during the Class C1-6 Subdistrict Tournament at North Bend Central. The Cadets (12-22 overall) beat the Pioneers (4-26) 19-25, 25-4, 25-18 and 25-10.
“We definitely cut down on unforced errors, and had good serving and good serve-receive,” said junior Olivia Quinlan when asked what FCHS did well with their season on the line.
The Pioneers 10th set win of the year came with a 4-2 start to Monday's match. West Point-Beemer couldn't handle Grace Genoways' first attack and an Abbey Lienemann ace serve early.
From there, Fort Calhoun's Megan Brayman added an ace, and both Raegen Wells and Lienemann notched kills before the Cadets tied the set at 17-all.
To earn the lead back, Quinlan served her team to a 20-17 advantage. Lienemann added two more aces down the stretch as FCHS took a 1-0 advantage.
“When I'm so overwhelmed with getting a bunch of aces and stuff, I'm just so hyped up,” the sophomore said. “I just want more, so I just keep going.”
The set win was the Pioneers' first since it defeated Winnebago on Oct. 9, 2-0.
“We were all just playing together,” junior Bailee Spencer said. “Definitely serve receiving, and our first contact was really good to get a kill.”
Initial contact has been a point of emphasis this fall as FCHS has worked to improve.
“Our hitters, we're all pretty good, but we just need to make sure we get our first contact up,” Spencer said.
Despite an Ellie Collins kill to start the second set, the Pioneers struggled mightily during the 25-4 setback. They regained their footing during the third as Lienemann, Collins, Spencer, Wells and Genoways all notched points in defeat.
Quinlan, the Calhoun setter, started the fourth set with a service ace, but the race to 25 wound up the final set of the Pioneers' season.
This fall, Spencer and Quinlan said the team has learned about communication and become more comfortable playing with one another. Next, FCHS players will fill their time with club volleyball, basketball and more in preparation for another volleyball campaign.
“We're all going to stay pretty athletic and be athletes through the spring and winter seasons,” Quinlan said.
The 2021 Pioneers won't graduate any seniors from there roster. All players will be eligible to return.
