Hartem volleyball wins a thriller on Senior Night

[April 23, 2021] 

The Hartem Stags defeated the Jacksonville Routt Rockets in three sets on Senior Night last Thursday night in Hartsburg. Hartem took the first set 25-21. Jacksonville won the second set 28-26. The Stags earned the win with a 25-17 score in the third set.

Set one

In set one, the Stags were quick to take a 3-0 lead on a kill by Brianna Grabowski. The Rockets came firing back to take a 5-3 lead. After a kill by Alaina Bradburn, the Stags trailed 6-5 but the Rockets heated up and took control. The Rockets buried the Stags into an 11-5 hole. The Stags reared back and pulled to within a 14-10 deficit after an ace by JoJo Baker. The Rockets continued to hold a lead midway through the game, but the Stags did not give up. The Stags would finally make it a ballgame on a monster kill by Grabowski to pull within a point, 19-18 the Rockets lead. The Stags would tie the game 19-19 after a huge block at the net. An ace by Grabowski put the Stags in front for good. After Jacksonville hit the ball into the net, the Stags lead was 21-19. Back-to-back kills by Gentri Fangmeier put the Stags in control 23-19. Fangmeier really got on top of the ball and it was definitely nonreturnable. After Fangmeier’s kill down the line….wow, by the way…the score was 24-20. Fangmeier was in a groove and she put the Rockets fire out with a kill to end set one. Hartem wins set one 25-21.

Set two

Hartem started out strong in set two and took a 6-1 lead after a kill by Hattie Langley. Following an ace by Addie Beekman, the Stags were up 8-2. The Rockets came firing back on all cylinders to make it a 10-9 ballgame. After the Stags were called for an illegal lineup, the game was tied 10-10. Fangmeier’s kill would give the Stags an 11-10 edge. An ace by Avah Classen put the Stags up 12-10. But it was too early to count the Rockets out. They jumped ahead of the Stags 15-12 after Fangmeier hit the ball out of bounds. A series of Hartem errors allowed the Rockets to take a 20-13 lead. After a string of errors by both teams, of which drove both coaches crazy, the Stags found themselves trailing just 23-21. Fangmeier’s kill and Classen’s sneaky tip tied the game 23-23. The two teams would volley to the point of a tie at 24-24. After a kill by Fangmeier, the score was tied 25-25. After the Rockets served the ball out of bounds, the score was tied 26-26.

Nothing like a good volleyball match to keep fans on the edge of their seats.

Quickly the momentum shifted in favor of the Rockets, and consecutive kills that the Stags could not handle allowed Jacksonville to take set two 28-26.

Set Three

There was no doubt set three would bring plenty of intense action. Grabowski came out swinging and put down two kills in a row that were absolutely nonreturnable to give the Stags a 4-1 lead early. After a kill by Fangmeier, the Stags were holding on to a 6-4 lead. Jacksonville stormed back to tie the game 8-8. The Rockets would even take a 10-9 lead. Time for Grabowski again. Her huge kill tied the game 10-10 and shifted the momentum back to the Stags. With Addie Beekman serving consistently at the line, Hartem jumped out to a 13-10 lead. The Stags lead grew to 17-11 after a kill by Classen from the middle. A tip by Fangmeier gave the Stags a 20-15 lead. A kill by Fangmeier would then give the Stags a 21-16 lead and the stage was set for Grace Beekman to enter the game. The senior setter and phenomenal outside hitter suffered a torn meniscus in August of 2019. Long story short, she last stepped on the court during the postseason in November of 2019 against Springfield Lutheran. She’s been sidelined this entire time due to surgery, rehab and of course Covid-19 restrictions.

On Senior Night Beekman was greeted with a standing ovation and a huge round of applause when she finally took the court. Her first touch of the ball was a set to Grabowski, who tipped the ball over the net. Jacksonville returned the ball and it would land out of bounds, giving the Stags a 22-16 lead. Beekman then stepped to the service line and didn’t miss a beat. Her serve was in and it was business as usual for the Stags.

The Stags continued to play phenomenal at the net down the stretch and after a kill into the block by Grabowski zoomed out of bounds, the Hartem lead was 23-16. Then after a hit out of bounds by the Rockets and a 24-16 score, it was Beekman back to the service line for game point. The crowd really came alive again.

Just when it looked like Hartem had the game won on a tip by Classen, the referee changed that thought. The Stags had already started a little celebration with Beekman on the court, but the referee’s call was against Classen for touching the ball over the net. It would be Jacksonville’s ball to serve. Beekman headed towards the bench to take a seat and seconds later Fangmeier ended things on a cross court kill to settle the final at 25-17.

A quick wave by both teams signaled game over and just like that Hartem Senior Night 2021 was in the books.

Senior Brianna Grabowski played an absolutely fantastic game with 14 kills and 11 service points. Grabowski was tied for the lead in kills with junior Gentri Fangmeier. Fangmeier had 14 kills and 4 blocks for the Stags. Senior Hattie J. Langley hit the floor consistently all night long and tallied 12 digs. Avah Classen, the junior setter, had 26 assists in the win.

Hartem coach Jennifer Hayes was proud of her team for rising to the occasion and winning the three-set thriller on Senior Night, especially after having to sit out for two weeks due to a Covid-19 quarantine.

“They (the seniors) did a fantastic job,” said Hayes. “I know that this means a lot to them. We should be having 12 matches by now. This is only our third match. I was able to get all the seniors in to play. We had about 20 minutes to work on their lineup last night because I just got them back out of quarantine. Each set that we had was a different lineup from the other one. I thought that takes a lot, for not being able to practice and not being able to be in the gym and to gut it out against a really good team. Routt came in and did a nice job. They played really well, we just really wanted it for Senior Night and I’m glad our seniors got it. It’s always nice to win on Senior Night.”

The seniors honored before the match were JoJo Baker, Grace Beekman, Alaina Bradburn, Brianna Grabowski, Hattie Langley and Marilyn McGill.

It was a match full of great defensive plays and spectacular offensive plays. It was intense competition at its finest capped off with a feel-good moment as 5’ 10 senior Grace Beekman took the floor on Senior Night for the one and only time this season. Volleyball fans might remember Beekman as a sophomore who was a key member of the Stags team that placed second in the IHSA Class 1A State Tournament in 2018. It was nice to see no. 9 take the court one more time wearing the orange and black.

“It was great,” said Beekman of the opportunity to join her teammates on the court versus Jacksonville Routt. “Just feeling all the reaction from the crowd and all the support was great. It’s such a small community and it’s really been so great to have everyone support me. My team has been such a huge support system. The community was cheering me on but my team has also been cheering me on so much every step of the way. I love that I got to play just one more time on the court, even if it was just to serve,” added Beekman with a smile.

Not only were fans happy to see Grace Beekman back on the court one more time, but her family was too. Parents Blake and Lori Beekman sat in the stands all smiles. The oldest Beekman sister, Kaylee, who was an assistant coach on that 2018 team, was able to witness the special moment for her sister. Grandmas Linda and Deborah sat together taking in the memory, too.

And of course Grace took the court with her younger sister, Addie, in the lineup. Addie is the freshman libero for Hartem. How cool is that?!

Grace will be attending SIUE in the Fall and will play volleyball for head coach Kendall Paulus, a Lincoln native. “I am really excited to have her as a coach,” said Beekman. “I love her coaching style and I am excited to just explore that and have fun with it.

Congratulations to all the 2021 Stag seniors!

With the win over Jacksonville Route, the Stags improved to 3-0 on the season.

The Stags JV lost to Jacksonville Routt 25-16 and 25-20.

Stags stats

Brianna Grabowski 14 kills 11 points
Gentri Fangmeier 14 kills 4 blocks
Avah Classen 26 assists
Hattie Langley 12 digs


[Teena Lowery]