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In fact, the only thing the Lincoln
Lady Railer volleyball team lacked on Saturday night was enough
points.
The Mount Zion Regional final brought
an end to the Railers' season Saturday night as the Bloomington High
School Raiders defeated LCHS in a tough three-game match by scores
of 18-25, 25-20 and 25-21. It was a well-played match by two
talented teams. The Railers played their hearts out but found them
broken at the end.
The Railers were clicking on all
cylinders in game one. LCHS was behind only at 2-3 in game one and
from that point on never trailed as they cruised to a 25-18 victory.
Every Railer player made a contribution. If Bloomington crowded the
net, Brooklyn Robbins gently pushed the ball deep into their
backcourt for a point. Megan Hoffert, Kendall Paulus and Samantha
Conrady hit, tipped and killed all along the net for points.
Michelle McFadden was literally unstoppable no matter where she
stood on the court. Both Maria Benitez and Robbins were excellent
from the service line. Maria's three successive points, including a
final ace, put game one in the LCHS column.
Things were well in hand it appeared.
Then came Bloomington's Ashley Petrinec. It was one of those
unexplainable things, where a certain player gets into a "zone." In
both game two and three, the BHS outside hitter went into a hitting
and serving zone for which the Railers had no permanent answer. Her
effort and emotion, along with the excellent serving of Kaeleigh
Rousey, would carry Bloomington to the end.
For example, in game two, with the
score tied at 12-11 Railers, Petrinec got the kill to knot the score
at 12-12. She then rotated to the service line, where her accurate
jump serve accounted for the next four Purple Raider points. Those
four points were critical. So critical, in fact, because the Lady
Railers could never make them up and never led again. Petrinec had
two more kills down the stretch, and the Purple Raiders won game two
25-20.
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In game three it appeared early on that
the Railers had bounced back and were set to win the regional title.
With excellent early serving by Samantha Conrady and Brooklyn
Robbins, the Lady Railers found themselves in control at 9-3 and
still in control at 11-5. Then the roof caved in. A BHS kill by
Ashley Petrinec brought a side-out to Bloomington with the score at
11-6. Bloomington's Kaeleigh Rousey stepped to the service line, and
before she left that spot the Purple Raiders had amassed eight
points to the Railers' one. Rousey had three aces and Petrinec had
two kills during that run. The Railers never gave up but also never
recovered. In the end BHS got the crucial third-game win 25-21 to
end the match and the Railers' season.
Some people say "all good things come
to an end." While I don't believe that common expression, I do know
that the way the IHSA volleyball tournament is set up, only one team
ends up in November with a "good thing." Every team, except the
eventual state Class AA champion, ends up with a season-ending loss.
So, let's just say that some good things come to an end eventually.
One of those good things came to an end
Saturday night as many tears hit the floor at Mount Zion High
School. That "good thing" was the exceptional 2003 Lady Railers
volleyball team: the undefeated (7-0) Central State Eight conference
champions, with an overall record of 26-7-1, with two great seniors
in Samantha Conrady and Ali Hower, a host of exceptional
underclassmen who will be back to keep the Railer tradition alive,
dedicated coaches and the continuing commitment to team play and
overall excellence. I see awards and accolades coming your way soon.
Forget the last loss (until next year
at regional time). You gave it your best effort. You played with
desire, heart and emotion. Cherish the great things accomplished,
the lessons learned on and off the volleyball court, the lifelong
relationships built, the support of your families and your fans, and
the memories of a great season.
Thanks for
representing Lincoln Community High School and the Lincoln community
with such class and poise! And for the last time this season, let me
say… WAY TO GO, RAILERS!
[Rick
Hobler]
Respond to the writer at
rhobler@lccs.edu.
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