Hartem volleyball defeats Illini Central

[April 23, 2021] 

The Hartem Stags hosted Illini Central on Wednesday night and won easily 25-6 and 25-9 over the Cougars.

Set one

The Stags ran out to a quick 4-0 lead in set one on kills by Alaina Bradburn and Brianna Grabowski and an ace by Addie Beekman and a tip by Grabowski. With Cassie Crabtree back in the lineup and swinging, the Stags maintained a 6-3 lead behind her two kills. A kill by Gentri Fangmeier made the score 10-4. The Stags were on a roll and even Avah Classen was feeling inspired. Classen’s perfect set to Bradburn for the kill had the junior jumping up and down like a hip-hop dancer. Classen followed that up with an ace serve and with the score 17-5 it was looking like a short evening for the Cougars. With serving specialist JoJo Baker at the line, the Stags lead grew to 20-5. A couple monster kills by Fangmeier in that stretch aided Baker’s cause. But Baker herself capped off that performance with an ace. Take a bow, JoJo. The Stags were shutting the door with a 23-5 lead after another “Avah to Alaina for the kill.” Nice work. With Fangmeier at the line to end set one, the Cougars slammed the door on themselves with a hit out of bounds. Hartem takes set one rather effortlessly 25-6.

Set two

Grabowski always seems to come out of the huddle swinging. Her kills tied the game at 2-2 in quick fashion in set two. A kill by Crabtree put Hartem up 3-2 but it would be the Cougars taking a 5-3 lead behind ace serves from Khloe Damm.

The Stags came scrambling back and took a 9-5 lead after another kill by Crabtree. Baker entered the game to serve after Crabtree’s cross court kill had set the score at 10-6. Baker served the Stags out to a 16-6 lead.  Again she was aided by Fangmeier at the net swinging. The Stags were cruising with a 19-8 lead after another Bradburn kill. Grabowski’s two kills in the final moments of the game made the score 22-9. A kill by Crabtree sailed through the block and the Stags were ready to put the cruise control on with a 23-9 lead. Addie Beekman served the Stags on to victory as Grabowski sent a kill into the block that ricocheted into the rafters of the Hartsburg gym. Following that thunderous sound the Stags waved bye to the Cougars and the 25-9 final was written in the books.

The Stags improved to 4-1 on the season.

The Stags JV team defeated Illini Central 25-20 and 25-9.

Stags stats

Brianna Grabowski 6 kills
Gentri Fangmeier 6 kills
Alaina Bradburn 5 kills 1 block
JoJo Baker 9 points
Hattie Langley 5 digs
Avah Classen 23 assists

[Teena Lowery]