The Fort Calhoun volleyball team closed its regular season Thursday with two best-of-three matches at Logan View High School.
The Pioneers went 0-2 against Wisner-Pilger and the host Raiders, finishing off the regular campaign 12-19 overall. The matches led directly into Monday's start to the Class C1-3 Subdistrict Tournament at Douglas County West.
“We have a practice coming up Friday and a practice on Sunday,” FCHS senior Tilden Nottlemann said, detailing the Pioneers' postseason preparation. “We're going to go at it hard.”
Updates from the C1-3 tourney can be found online at enterprisepub.com/sports. Full coverage will appear in this Friday's Washington County Enterprise edition.
First, though, Nottelman's team started the Logan View triangular with a 2-0 loss to Wisner, which went 2-0 Thursday. The Gators won both sets with Calhoun 25-18.
FCHS fell behind 17-10 during the first set, but climbed back within 19-16 before Wisner pulled way. Junior Raegen Wells had a pair of kills during the comeback effort as did senior Grace Genoways. Genoways' spike at 19-16 hit its target in the back corner of the floor.
The Pioneers then earned a lead during the second set, 6-4. Senior Olivia Quinlan's ace serve contributed to the advantage before the Gators evened the score at 6-6.
From there, Wisner-Pilger led the rest of the way. Genoways' kill cut Fort Calhoun's deficit to 18-17, but coach Liz Sevcik's team was unable to pull any closer.
Shelby Dorau, Wells and Genoways later registered kills during the first set of a 2-0 loss to Logan View, too. The Pioneers lost the first race to 25, 25-19, but Dorau's attack was a highlight. Madison Buczkowski punched the ball to keep it alive before her teammate leapt for it at the net and put it away for a point.
In the second set, FCHS fell behind 8-2 early before Buczkowski notched her own kill. Momentum stayed with the Raiders, though, who won the set 25-8.
Abbey Lienemann scored a late kill with a hit to the back line, but it wasn't enough for the Pioneers.
“We kind of got in our heads and when we get in our heads we just, kind of, stop communicating,” Nottlemann said. “That really holds us back and just brings us all down together.”
The senior hoped her team would practice well and extend their season at DC West on Monday.
“Hopefully we can make it a few rounds into districts,” she said. “At least.”
FCHS VOLLEYBALL LINE SCORES
Thursday
Logan View 2, Fort Calhoun 0
FCHS (12-19) 19 8 — 0
LV (13-16) 25 25 — 2
Wisner-Pilger 2, Fort Calhoun 0
WP (22-9) 25 25 — 2
FCHS (12-18) 18 18 — 0
