Hartem Stags make Senior Night an exciting one

[October 19, 2018] 

They started from the bottom and now they're here. Once upon a time, a little bunch of kindergartners made up the Orange Crush and now they're all grown, one standing as tall as 5'11. On Wednesday night they celebrated Senior Night with a few tears and a lot of kills. Welcome to Stag volleyball - 2018.

The Hartem Stags, one of the most dominating volleyball programs across the state of Illinois, a powerhouse if you will, doing what they do best on Senior Night ~ winning in exciting fashion.

The Stags Varsity won over Jacksonville Routt in two sets. But it took a lot of volleys to put that first set away 32-30.

It was a game in which the Stags kept jumping out to small leads only to see the Rockets launch kill after kill and tie the game. Hartem held a 20-17 lead and then watched it disappear to a 20-22 deficit. Not typical Stag fashion, especially on their home court, where you can bet the farm on these girls.

So back-to-back kills from Izzy Classen and Anna Hayes tied the game at 22-22. That was pretty much expected. What wasn't quite expected was that it would take ten more points to settle this game.

The Rockets were fired up, but so was Anna Hayes. At 5'11 Hayes is the sweetest girl you will ever meet... until you find her team down.

With the score going back and forth, point-for-point in the final minutes, it was Hayes with seven of the eight kills down the stretch for the Stags.

Grace Beekman flattened the other ball.

 

Talk about flatten. Anna Hayes can deflate a ball better than Tom Brady. After the Stags were called for a lift and found themselves in a 29-30 hole, it was Hayes who came up swinging ~ and swinging hard. She didn't get cheated. The perfect sets down the stretch by Beekman and Lily Escobedo allowed Hayes to literally get on top of the ball and just like the '80s group, "WHAM!" there was a sound that rocked the gymnasium. If you were sitting down low you had the pleasure of hearing the ball honestly deflate as it hit the gym floor. No exaggeration. This girl and her teammates take "Girl Power" to a new level and the fans love it!

The 32-30 win was definitely worth the price of admission and then some.

Set two

Set two was a whole lot quicker. Senior Night memories (and tears) had faded and the Stags knew they had business to take care of. They managed a 14-7 lead in no time and just kept on rolling.

Beekman made it 20-10 with her kill and the Rockets were just ready to go back home.

Brianna Grabowski, a sophomore, would get the last kill of the night for Hartem and with that the Stags won 25-13.

Certainly worth mentioning in both these sets, the Stags defense stepped it up. Led by little Lexi Barry, these Stags hit the floor time and time again to bring the ball up. Barry finished her night with 13 digs to lead the Stags and most likely just as many bruises. All of these girls just play tough.

Before moving on to hear from the seniors, it is really important to focus on what's left after this year. And we're not talking leftovers by any means.

The Hartem JV squad finished the season with a perfect 15-0 record as they defeated Jacksonville Routt 25-14 and 25-10 on Thursday night.

This is a JV squad with plenty of state tournament championships and some pretty valuable varsity experience already, too. When you look at the power of some of these sophomores and juniors, you know the Stags will be just fine.

Brianna Grabowski is just a quiet queen of the kill and Alaina Bradburn, holy cow, this sophomore is dangerous when she gets a good swing at the ball.

And how about Lily Escobedo ~ love that name, it belongs in lights ~ and she is a hustler on the court, taking control and making sure that the ship Coach Hayes is always talking about stays on course.

There is even another Classen coming up, Avah, who will play a vital role in years to come.
 

And don't sleep on Emily Craig. She's been consistent every time she comes in off the bench. You can't beat consistency.

And folks, please get out to see the Stags play in the postseason.

Not gonna lie, it's looking like the last opportunity to see Grace Beekman in a Stag uniform. Grace is a treasure. She is an incredible athlete and has a bright volleyball future ahead of her. But the Beekman family will be moving soon, so time is getting short to see this girl play around central Illinois.

Now grab the tissues, if you haven't already, and keep reading for what Coach Hayes and these girls have to say.

To know Jennifer Hayes at all, is to know that first and foremost, she's a mom, a really great mom to three kids. She is also in her 25th year coaching volleyball for the small communities of Hartsburg and Emden.

This season has been building for many years as Coach Hayes has had the elite opportunity a lot of coaches dream of ~ she's been a coach and mentor to her own daughter, Anna. It's no doubt the emotions were high Wednesday night. Coach Hayes said she was fine until she walked into the hallway to lineup for Senior Night and there was her daughter sobbing against Dad's (Aaron's) shoulder already.

After the win, Coach Hayes was still juggling the mom/coach role and she came up with these thoughts.

Coach Hayes:

"It’s bittersweet," the mom started out slowly. "It’s been lots and lots of years that I’ve been doing this, and a lot of years before she was born, to like, be ready to play. And then when I had a daughter knowing maybe one day she would play....and then to have it all end tonight for the regular season. Luckily, I have regionals here, so I got another week of it so that’s just fantastic. But it’s just a sad moment for me just because I know for the regular season that that was it with her. I will continue but it will be without Anna.

On a bigger picture, I’ve had all the girls for a lot of years. I started with the Orange Crush with all of them in kindergarten, which is the earliest I’ve ever done it, because it was Anna. So I’ve had them forever. I’ve had them all at my house. We’ve had slumber parties and everything. It’s just an end of an era. So that’s sad for me tonight."

"But I am glad we pulled out the win tonight," grinned the coach. "It was a little more exciting than it probably needed to be. I knew when all the seniors were coming out for Senior Night and they were crying, that is what was really tough, to like switch it off and have that same mental thought, because they’re all thinking, “This is it.”

"But it was good for them to have to play that long and to pull it out. It gave the crowd some great excitement. In the second game I thought we took care of business and off we went," said Coach Hayes with a big smile.

The Hartem Volleyball seniors along with one senior golfer, Alex Eads, were honored before the Varsity game versus Jacksonville Routt.

Senior golfer Alex Eads and parents Mike and Thais.

Yes, off they went to an overall varsity record of 27 wins and 3 losses.

Now for a few words from the Stag seniors.

Hartem seniors Anna Hayes, Abbigail Hoerbert, Lexi Barry, Izzy Classen and Ivy Merz. The Class of 2019 rocks!

Stags:

First a word from the newcomer, Izzy Classen. Classen's family moved from Delavan to the Hartem community this summer and the senior fit right in immediately and has made a huge impact in the lineup. She's a phenomenal athlete and will give any coach 110% all the time.

Senior Izzy Classen and her parents, Jerod and Kari.

Izzy Classen ~ "My senior season has been one for the books! The players and coaches have been so welcoming and supportive. This team's commitment is what really stands out to me especially coming from a school of our size. I am amazed at our accomplishments as a team and I can't wait to see what lies ahead of us on the court and off. I love the game and this team has made this the best senior season ever!"

Senior Abbie Hoerbert and her parents, John and Tina.

Abbigail Hoerbert ~ "I have been going to this school since preschool. I have loved playing with them since our little Orange Crush years. I can't believe this time has come and I have loved every minute with everyone. I can't wait to see how the rest of the season turns out!"

Senior Lexi Barry and her parents, Ron and Vanessa.

The pride of the Emden community and Lexi Barry’s grandmother, Lula Belle. A true treasure who was once the parade grand marshal and who drove many school children on that big yellow bus. Everyone should have a Lula Belle in their life.

Lexi Barry ~ "I have been playing for Coach Hayes since I was very little. I believe she has made me the person I am today. I want her to know how much I appreciate her and thank her for all that she has done for me."

Senior Anna Hayes and her parents, Aaron and Jennifer.

Anna Hayes ~ "My final season of playing volleyball as a Stag is nearing. There are a few things I've learned over the past 13 years. To be a Stag is to be feared by many even though we should always be the underdog. To be a Stag means to never back down from a challenge. To be a Stag means making the impossible, possible. Being a Stag means being relentless, passionate, loyal, hard-working, true and PROUD. Every opportunity I've been given is because I am a STAG.

"Senior Night was very bittersweet. I've been playing with these girls since kindergarten and it's sad to think that our time playing volleyball together is almost over. The someday feeling of playing my last home game has now become a today feeling. Thirteen years with these girls has come faster than I could've ever imagined. We have one last ride together in the post season. We're doing whatever it takes."

Senior Ivy Merz and her parents, David and Jessica.

The Hartem Varsity will play in the Quincy Notre Dame Tournament this weekend.

The Stags will host regionals beginning next week as the post season gets underway.

Hartem Varsity stats on Senior Night

Anna Hayes 22 kills 9 digs
Grace Beekman 8 kills 20 assists 6 digs 2 points 1 block
Lexi Barry 13 digs 6 points 2 aces 2 assists
Izzy Classen 2 kills 9 points 3 digs 1 ace
Brianna Grabowski 2 kills 1 dig 1 assist
Alaina Bradburn 3 kills 1 assist
Lily Escobedo 1 kill 11 assists 4 points 1 ace 1 dig
Emily Craig 4 digs 3 points
Avah Classen 1 point 1 dig
Abbigail Hoerbert 1 dig
Hattie Langley 1 dig

[Teena Lowery]