Hartsburg-Emden opens at home with a win over Deer Creek-Mackinaw

 

[August 25, 2023]  The Hartsburg-Emden Stags hosted Deer Creek Mackinaw Thursday night and kicked off the season with a couple wins. The Varsity won 25-19 and 25-23. The JV won 25-22 and 25-23.
 

Varsity
 
Set one
 
The Stags took a 4-3 lead early in set one on a tip by Celia Cross. A kill by Alayna Briggs stretched the lead to 6-3 and then another kill by Briggs made the score 7-4. After a kill by Addie Beekman, the Stags were on top 8-5. Beekman added another kill to set the score at 10-6. Freshman Emma Eeten earned her first varsity kill from the middle to make the score 12-7 and the student section savored every second of that moment. Briggs, a sophomore, followed up with yet another kill and Coach Jennifer Hayes has a lot to smile about already this season. Briggs hammered another one down upon the Chiefs defense and the Stags lead was 17-11. After an ace by Sadie Williams, the Stags were edging closer to victory with the score 19-11. Hartem would see a lead of 20-11 before the Chiefs danced their way back into the game. With the score 20-16 the Stags needed a run to put the Chiefs away. Briggs had an opportunity to turn things around and did she ever. She hit the volleyball so hard there was a thunderous roar heard throughout the gym and the Chiefs were left stunned. It was only one point, but it was the point the Stags needed to get back on track. The Stags took advantage of the Chiefs errors and then after a kill by sophomore Ellie Klokkenga, the lead grew to 23-17. After the Chiefs were called for a lift, game point went to the Stags, 25-19 the final score.

Set two
 
The Chiefs commanded the lead early in set two, jumping in front 10-5 at one point. Two kills by Beekman would bring the Stags to within a 10-9 score. The two teams were point for point unit a kill from the middle by Eeten gave Hartem a 13-12 lead. The Stags would never surrender the lead from this moment on, pulling away by as much as a 16-12 score. The Chiefs kept pace though and found themselves still in the fight, down 18-14 and then 20-16. After Beekman hit the ball out of bounds, the Chiefs drew closer with a 21-20 score. Both teams committed hitting errors down the stretch, but it was the Stags holding steady for a 25-23 win. The final point of the game was a nice quick set by Celia Cross followed by a little hit by Eeten from the middle to catch the Chiefs defense with their guard down.
 
Hartem wins in two sets and Coach Jennifer Hayes has a lot to be proud of in her team’s opening night performance. She has some veteran experience and leadership in senior captains, Addie Beekman and Cloee O’Donoghue. And the youth movement is underway at the little school that has an enrollment of 60 kids. Emma Eeten is the freshman who brings height to the middle position and she is sure to start racking up the kills for the Stags. Alayna Briggs, Celia Cross and Ellie Klokkenga are sophomores stepping up in a big way. Overall, the athleticism and strength of these Stags is impressive and it’s evident they worked hard on their game in the offseason. Conditioning has always been important to Coach Hayes and she has her athletes in great shape and ready to compete against anyone, no matter the size.
 
“I thought for coming out, playing our first competitive game, I thought we played really well,” said Hayes. “I know that you’re always nervous. Dee-Mack had already had two matches under their belt and so I knew that that would be a little bit of a hard start for us. But I thought we went smooth and then I thought we had it under control and then we took a timeout. We talked about things and we’re working on special plays and special sets that we’re not extremely comfortable with yet and you could tell that flip. So we were up 21-11 but you could see rather than just letting it flow, they were thinking. So when you think in a game, things are gonna go wrong. You’re just a little bit off. And then when you go five in a row, they haven’t learned yet to be like ‘ok we need to go back’ and then come back in. Because when you start going down a rabbit hole, you can’t get out of it. And you could just see the tone and the tempo of the game went slower when they were trying to think about what they were doing versus just play the game. But we’re not gonna win the big ones if we don’t get this to the point that we’re flowing the specials. Now’s the time to do it. So we’re running our b’s, we’re running our two’s, we’re running our slides, you know, we’re doing all those things that they’re just not as comfortable doing. But if you don’t do it, you’re not gonna win the big games.”
 

photo courtesy of Jennifer Hayes

Hayes was also very pleased with her two senior captains stepping up on the court and pulling it together for the rest of the team.
  
“I thought my two senior captains really did a nice job of bringing ‘em together before I did,” said Hayes. “And that’s the step that we are learning, to be team-oriented and disciplined versus coach-oriented and disciplined. Because really at the end of the day they’ve got to win it on the court. I can’t do it for them. They’ve got to figure out how to do it. I thought all my girls did a really nice job for the first time out.”
  
The girls did a nice job and it was a good win on opening night in front of a large crowd. With so many positives to take from the evening, it’s very clear the Stags are on the right path and fans can look forward to an exciting volleyball season.
  
The team’s motto this season is simple: BELIEVE
  
The Stags will play in the Springfield Lutheran High tournament this weekend. However, Coach Hayes said those games will be played in Chatham. Meanwhile, Lutheran High School continues to look for property to rebuild their school after experiencing mine subsidence that caused significant damage to the school. The school was, in fact, scheduled to be demolished this summer.
  
Varsity stats
  
Addie Beekman 10 points 10 digs 6 kills
  
Alayna Briggs 8 kills 6 digs 2 blocks
  
Celia Cross 21 assists
  
Emma Eeten 5 kills 4 blocks
  
Junior Varsity
  
The Stags Junior Varsity team won 25-22 and 25-23 over Deer Creek-Mackinaw.
  
JV stats
  
Allie Grelck 6 points 15 assists
Ellie Klokkenga 5 kills
Emma Eeten 3 kills 5 blocks
Cambelle Hopkins 3 kills
Sadie Williams 4 digs

The 2023 Hartsburg-Emden Stags
  
Players
  
Addie Beekman
Michelle Benner
Cloee O’Donoghue
Kyleigh Ott
Kylie Starcevic
Sadie Williams
Gabby Bell
Jasey Bradburn
Alayna Briggs
Celia Cross
Ellie Klokkenga
Alexis Cannon
Danielle Dueringer
Emma Eeten
Alicia Grelck
Cambelle Hopkins
Maecey Singley
Lexi Wetherell
  
Head Coach
Jennifer Hayes
  
Assistant Coaches
Jordan Detmers
Shauna Wetherell
Alec Hayes
  
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Teena Lowery