LDN - Sports

High School Volleyball: Hartsburg-Emden defeats Mount Pulaski on the volleyball court

[September 25, 2021] The Stags hosted the Lady Toppers Thursday night and just like every match between these two teams, the fans anticipated a great night of volleyball and the players and coaches did not disappoint.

The 2021 edition of this long-standing rivalry would be a little different this time, with Mount Pulaski under the direction of new head coach and 2015 MPHS graduate Whitney Nichols. Nichols’ Lady Toppers fought hard against the Stags, who have only suffered one loss on the season. In the end it would be veteran coach Jennifer Hayes guiding her team to win no. 17 on the season.

The Stags took the match in two thrilling sets, 25-21 and 25-22.

Set one

Mount Pulaski jumped out to a 2-0 lead, with Cassidy Clark getting the first kill for the Lady Toppers. Hartem’s Gentri Fangmeier tied the game at 4-4 with her first kill of the night. An ace by Fangmeier put the Stags up by a point, 5-4. A kill by Mount Pulaski’s Alexis Wade knotted the game at 6-6, but the Stags were quick to take an 8-6 lead on a kill by Addie Beekman and a tip by Avah Classen. Mount Pulaski fought back to reclaim the lead, 10-9 after a Stags error. The Stags Cassie Crabtree tied the game at 10-10 after a kill. These two teams just continued to exchange points with each other, until Lexi Baker’s kill gave the Stags a 14-12 lead. A couple Mount Pulaski errors later and the Stags were up 16-12. A kill by Wade that knocked Classen off her feet, inched Mount Pulaski closer, 16-13 the score. Wade kept the game close with her swings, but Mount Pulaski still found themselves in a 19-16 hole. Following a timeout with the score 21-17, the Stags came out of the huddle swinging. First it was Crabtree with a kill to make the score 22-17. Then back-to-back kills from Beekman and Fangmeier put the Stags in a comfortable 24-19 lead. Mount Pulaski would lose the first set 25-21 on a long serve out of bounds.

Hartem Coach Jennifer Hayes and Mount Pulaski Coach Whitney Nichols talk volleyball after the game.

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Mount Pulaski's Whitney Nichols gives her team instructions in a timeout during set one.

Set two

The Stags took a 3-0 lead after a kill by Jenna Benner and a tip by Classen really fired up the crowd. Mount Pulaski was able to roar back to a 5-5 tie after a couple kills by Je’Na Rentmeister. The Lady Toppers would even mount an 8-5 lead over the Stags thanks to an ace by Hailee Daigh and a kill by Clark. Kills by Becker and Beekman kept Hartem in the race, down just 9-7 at this point. Mount Pulaski put together a run that ended with a 12-7 lead after a kill by Wade. Wade kept Mount Pulaski in front 13-8 with another kill. Fangmeier’s two kills brought the Stags to a 13-10 score. After a string of errors by the Lady Toppers, the score was knotted 14-14. A kill by Rentmeister put Mount Pulaski back in front by a point and that would be the last lead for the visitors in this set. The Stags managed to hold an 18-16 lead after a kill by Benner. Crabtree kept the Stags in front 20-18 following her kill. Beekman’s kill padded the lead 23-20. A huge block at the net by the Stags set the stage for game point, with the score now 24-20. Mount Pulaski did not give up easily and earned a couple more points before Fangmeier put the game away 25-22 with one more kill.

Gentri Fangmeier would lead all players with 9 kills. Addie Beekman added 8 kills for the Stags.

Alexis Wade led Mount Pulaski with 8 kills.

The Stags improved to 17-1 on the season.

Hartsburg-Emden Stats

Gentri Fangmeier 9 kills 2 aces

Avah Classen 27 assists 7 points 2 blocks

Addie Beekman 8 kills 10 digs

Cassie Crabtree 8 digs

Violet Merz 6 digs

Mount Pulaski stats

Hailee Daigh 17 assists 5 kills 8 digs 2 blocks 1 ace

Alexis Wade 8 kills 9 digs 2 blocks 1 ace

Je’Na Rentmeister 5 kills 12 digs

Kamrie Charron 10 digs

[Teena Lowery]

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