Huge Hartem Homecoming crowd sees Stags volleyball improve to 17-2

[September 28, 2018] 

It was your typical Hartem September Homecoming on Thursday night in Hartsburg. Friends and family flocked to the gym, the student section was full of rowdy fans and following the magnificent player introductions by Blake Beekman, the 2018 Stags hit the court versus the Williamsville Bullets.

But there was something really special about this night. You could even feel it, but you can't necessarily explain it. It's just that special.

A fist bump, a friendship, and a whole lotta powerful swings out of Anna Hayes (11) and Grace Beekman (9).

The Stags certainly could feel it on the court. The smiles, the hugs, the fist bumps, the laughs and then the kills. Anna Hayes, sporting no. 11 on her black uniform, wasted no time playing in her final Homecoming match.

With the very first set to Hayes, fans got to see and hear her annihilate the ball off the head of a back row Williamsville defender. Wham! Pun intended, the poor girl on the other side of the net simply could not dodge a bullet shaped in the form of a volleyball. But to Williamsville's defense, they did step up and successfully block the second attempt by a swinging Hayes. Still Hayes kept swinging and kill after kill by the senior allowed Hartem to take a 14-9 lead and never look back.

Brianna Grabowski even got in the swing of things and she found a hole in the corner for a kill that made the score 15-12. But the most thunderous applause of the evening came after a long volley between the two teams that saw Grace Beekman make some pretty impressive moves time and time again to save the ball and then Hayes threw down a kill that brought the Stag fans off their seats in the wooden bleachers.

Hayes' kill made the score 16-12. But Beekman was just unstoppable in set one. Beekman, who possesses a tall and slender athletic build, pounded the ball so hard you would think she has the strength of Dwayne Johnson, and maybe she does. She threw down a couple big kills that just made everyone go "WOW!" One of her kills even ricocheted off the face of one of the Bullets. Man that's gotta hurt.

Beekman allowed the Stags to roll out to a 21-15 lead after she had about five huge kills right after one another. Talk about dominate. And she's just a sophomore.

Williamsville is no second-class volleyball program either. They are top notch athletes with their "Better to be a Bullet" campaign. The Bullets were just up against a tough Stags team that isn't afraid of anybody.

Hayes was back at it making that sound like she's flattening the volleyball on contact, as the score found it's way to 23-17. Even the liberó, Lexi Barry, got in on a little hitting action as she swung successfully from the back row. Yes, it was a kill. A beautiful kill, in fact. Finally, it was Barry serving the Stags home to victory, aided by Hayes with a tip that landed deep in the corner and set one went to Hartem, 25-18 the score.

Hayes and Beekman were just toying with the Bullets in set two as the score was driven to a 9-9 tie. Led by a trio of kills by Hayes, the Stags doubled-up the competition 18-9 quickly thereafter. From that point, the Stags were amazing on defense and only allowed the Bullet fans two more opportunities to cheer. The final score was reached as Hayes served the Stags home on Homecoming and Beekman had one last kill to end the game just before 8 p.m. Stags take set two 25-11 over the 3A competition.

Anna Hayes led the way with 18 kills and 2 blocks. Grace Beekman had 8 kills, 21 assists and 10 digs. Lexi Barry had 6 points and 11 digs.

As fans flocked to the gym floor to talk to the players following the win, Coach Jennifer Hayes, who is also the coordinator of the H-E Homecoming activities, was busy relaying information about a pizza party following the game at Sorrento's in Lincoln. Hayes kindly took time to talk about the game before heading out to feed her team.

"I thought tonight was phenomenal," said the energetic coach. "I've been waiting for a game like this at home. We had a big crowd. I thought the girls played relaxed. You could tell that we've really worked in practice the last three days. We took last weekend off to kind of recharge our batteries and it just was smooth. They were having fun out there. The crowd was really into it. I thought we played amazing defense and kept everybody going. It was just an electric atmosphere, which is where you want to play great, at home. So it was a great night for Homecoming."

Homecoming activities and dress-up days have taken place all week with a dance scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday night in the school's cafeteria. There will also be a bonfire at Barry's house following the dance. Nothing but good times/good memories in a small community.

The Stags Varsity record improves to 17-2. The Stags JV team also defeated Williamsville in two sets, 25-12 and 25-14.

One final word: If you haven't seen these Stags play yet this season, you are truly missing out on something special. Anna Hayes, a senior outside hitter and the only daughter of the coach, Jennifer Hayes, is committed to the University of Memphis and her performances are worth the price of admission alone. But Hayes is surrounded by some heavy-hitters and some girls who aren't afraid of hitting the floor. Grace Beekman being just one of these girls. Beekman is solid all-around in her play and she has no quit in her. Honestly up and down the lineup these girls give it 110 percent no matter what. They know all about hustle and what it takes to be a team player. The 2018 Stags are special. Don't miss out.

Stags stats

Anna Hayes 18 kills 2 points 2 blocks 2 digs

Grace Beekman 8 kills 10 digs 21 assists 3 points 1 block

Lexi Barry 1 kill 6 points 11 digs 2 assists

Izzy Classen 1 kill 9 points 5 digs 3 blocks

Brianna Grabowski 3 kills 1 block

Alaina Bradburn 3 kills 5 blocks

Lily Escobedo 6 assists

Avah Classen 1 point 2 assists

Ivy Merz 1 dig

Abbie Hoerbert 5 points

Emily Craig 1 point 3 digs

[Teena Lowery]

Scenes from the game