West Lincoln Broadwell wins Regional Championship 

[March 11, 2022]  The West Lincoln Broadwell Lady Wolverines defeated Hartsburg-Emden in a thrilling three-set matchup Thursday night to win the Class 8-1A Regional Championship. West Lincoln Broadwell was the no. 3 seed in the Bartonville Oak Grove Regional. The Stags were the no. 1 seed. In two earlier season meetings between the two teams, the Lady Wolverines and the Stags were 1-1. There would be a lot on the line Thursday night between these two teams. Not only would it be the season tie-breaker, but also a chance to move on in the postseason. True to form, it was an epic battle between the perennial volleyball powerhouse volleyball program that makes up the Stags and the underdog Lady Wolverines, who are widely known as perennial powerhouses in girls basketball. Nonetheless, both programs boast terrific athletes who are historically great competitors. 

The fans were treated to some great volleyball Thursday night, with the Stags opening with a dominate 25-17 first set win. 

The Lady Wolverines found themselves down in the second set, too. The Stags held a small lead early before the Lady Wolverines were able to make a comeback and tie the Stags late in the game. The two teams volleyed point for point from 18-19 on. It was exciting, intense, nerve-wracking and definitely had the entire crowd on their feet. In the end the Lady Wolverines would come out on top 30-28 in the second set. 

The Lady Wolverines came out swinging in the third set and only seemed to get more fired up with every volley. WLB took a 3-0 lead in the set and eventually ran the lead out to 7-1. The Lady Wolverines were not messing around and before long the lead was 12-3. Things just kept escalating from there. Leads of 15-9 and 19-12 would soon flash on the scoreboard. With a 20-15 lead in WLB’s favor, the momentum was definitely in their corner. A replay with the score 21-17 might have caused a little anxiety for the WLB fans, but the players remained in control and very quickly they were able to celebrate a 25-18 win and a VOLLEYBALL Regional Championship.

Lily Holmes led WLB with 10 kills and 11 digs. Jayden Behrends had 9 kills and 2 blocks. Dabria Dalpoas had 5 aces for the Lady Wolverines.

After the game, WLB first-year coach Kaylee Beekman shared what she told the girls after that loss in the first set and it really ignited their comeback, both mentally and physically. 

“After the first set, I was telling the girls the beautiful thing about volleyball is, it doesn’t matter, after the first set the score goes back to zero-zero,” said Beekman. “I have a lot of basketball players and they’re used to one game, but I was like, it doesn’t matter at all. Put it out of your head. The score is zero-zero and that’s the beautiful thing about volleyball.” 

“In the second game, it was point for point and I burned my timeouts,” said Beekman. “I just told them, you gotta push play every single point like it’s your last because it could be. And they went out and they did just that.”

After an epic set two, the stage was set to see who would advance to sectionals. WLB was obviously focused on the prize.

Congratulations to the Regional Champion WLB Lady Wolverines! Photo courtesy of Teena Lowery

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“I think after the second game, winning 30-28, you have all the momentum and the girls just kept rolling with it,” said Beekman. “After the first game, their confidence was a little shaken. They gained it in the second set and they went out in the third game just ready to kill. They were ready to win. They did everything they needed to do and did it right. Hartsburg-Emden played great defense and played their game extremely well and that’s what kept them in the game. Our girls just did exactly what they needed to do to win." 

One more obvious question had to be answered for volleyball fans who are well aware that the rookie WLB coach, Kaylee Beekman, grew up a Stag and played for the veteran Hartem coach, Jennifer Hayes, and Beekman was even an assistant under Hayes just a couple seasons ago.

So how did it feel coaching against someone who taught Beekman to play the game and ultimately coach the game? 

Beekman answered that question with a smile and said, “We were texting today about the game and I said, ‘Good luck, Coach.’ I still refer to her as my coach. She’s my mentor. She’s had such an impact on me. She’s why I love the game of volleyball. She’s why I wanted to coach because she’s impacted me so much, not just as a player, but as a person. So I have all the respect in the world for her. Of course, it felt good beating her but I know she’s not done coaching for a while. I’m just getting started in it, so we will have a lot of good matchups to come.”

Without a doubt there will be many more epic battles in the future between these two teams and coaches. 

West Lincoln Broadwell improved to 18-2 with the win.

The Stags finished their season with an 18-3 record. 

West Lincoln Broadwell (18-2) will play Springfield Christ the King (13-8) for the Sectional Championship on Monday, March 14, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. That game will be hosted by Hartsburg-Emden in Hartsburg.

Good luck Lady Wolverines! 

Stags stats:

Points  - Gabby Bell 12

Kills  -   Alayna Briggs 7

              Ellie Klokkenga 7

Blocks - Alayna Briggs 4

               Emma Eeten 3

Assists  - Celia Cross 16

Digs -     Alayna Briggs 10

               Ellie Klokkenga 9

[Teena Lowery]