Stags come home with the 4th place trophy

Alayna Briggs named to the all-tournament team

 

[November 18, 2024]  The Hartsburg-Emden Stags lost a heartbreaker on Saturday morning to the Cissna Park Lady Timberwolves in the third place match of the 2024 Class 1A Volleyball State Championships at CEFCU Arena in Normal.

The Stags won set one 25-16 but Cissna Park got revenge in the final two sets, winning 25-16 and 25-21. The Stags beat out Cissna Park last year in the semifinals of the state tournament. Cissna Park finished in fourth place last year when the Stags finished in second place.

Alayna Briggs led the Stags with 12 kills while Ellie Klokkenga added 7 kills against Cissna Park.

Addison Lucht led Cissna Park with 16 kills. Sophie Duis added 10 kills. Both girls are 5’10 juniors.

Set one
Alayna Briggs and company came out determined in set one and they were quick to gain a 4-1 lead. Briggs had two kills and a huge block that contributed to the lead. Next thing you know it’s a few Stag errors and a couple of aces that put the Lady Timberwolves on top 5-4. The set would go back and forth early and often with Cambelle Hopkins keeping the fans engaged with a kill to take the 7-6 lead. Alayna Briggs tied the set 8-8 before the first timeout called by Cissna Park. A kill and an ace by Hopkins would keep the Stags on top 11-10. An ace by Sadie Williams excited the fans and kept the Stags up 14-11. Alayna Briggs came up with a monster kill as the score reached 15-12. Ellie Klokkenga’s two kills put Hartem up 19-16 and the Lady Timberwolves would cease to score a point from this moment on. Five errors on the attack were deadly for Cissna Park. With the Stags needing just six points to close out the victory, they used a kill by Hopkins to get that other point needed en route to the 25-16 win.

Set two
Set two had a little miscommunication among Stags early and with a block on Alayna Briggs, the Lady Timberwolves stormed out to the 4-0 lead. Hayes was quick to call a timeout but Cissna Park still drew leads of 6-2 and 10-3. The Stags were able to evenly distribute kills among Addi Briggs, Alayna Briggs and Klokkenga but they just were not falling often enough. After a block on Emma Eeten by Cissna Park, Hayes used another timeout, this time on Doug Collins Court, with the score 13-4.

Klokkenga came out of the huddle and got a quick point for the Stags on a kill and pretty soon Alayna Briggs was back at it, but the Stags still found themselves down and nearly out with the score 19-10. Another kill by Klokkenga set the score at 20-13 but the hole was already dug and the Stags had to finish out the set and move on. Hopkins had the last kill of the set to make the score 21-14 and that was really sad. Emma Eeten and Addi Briggs had a really good block on Josie Neukomm but with the score 22-16, the inevitable was around the corner. Alayna Briggs was blocked near the end of the set and that pumped up the Lady Timberwolves. They earned the last point on a hitting error by the Stags and took set two 25-16.

Set three
Here we go again. Set three is going to have twelve ties and six lead changes. Aces by Sadie Williams gave the Stags a 3-1 lead. Alayna Briggs kept the team on top 5-4 after a tip. With the score 6-6 Celia Cross stepped to the line to serve and she broke that tie and even sent the fans into a frenzy with a 10-6 lead and two aces. Cissna Park called a timeout here and afterwards, they went on to tie the Stags 10-10.

Next it was Hartem’s turn for the timeout.

A net serve and a net violation gave the Stags a 12-10 lead. Yet again, here comes another tie and a chance for the Stags to take a lead. This story would be repeated back and forth for a number of plays, finally settling on a 14-14 tie. But hey, the Stags are going to break that tie and take a 17-14 lead on two aces by Williams and a kill by Alayna Briggs. The lead disappeared when a trio of Stags had trouble battling the net. The two teams were knotted again, this time 17-17.

Hayes with the timeout one more time.

This is starting to feel like the Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano fight on Netflix Friday night, which was way better than the Mike Tyson and Jake Paul “fight.”

At any rate, boxing gloves not included, these Stags and Wolverines did partake in an epic battle. Alayna Briggs came out of the huddle to notch another kill, giving the Stags the 18-17 edge. Sophie Duis answered back and she tied the set. It took a kill from Klokkenga to tie things at 19-19. A 4-0 run by Cissna Park put the odds heavily in their favor. They earned a kill, an ace and a block and that put them up 23-19. Alayna Briggs and Klokkenga each had one more left in the tank but it was not enough to bring the Stags back. Neukomm ended the Stags hope for a season-ending win with a kill that ricocheted off the arms of Alayna Briggs in the back row and Allie Grelck did everything she could to save it, diving to the floor, arms stretched out, in front of the Stockton student section. She didn’t have much of a chance.

Cissna Park takes the set 25-21 and clinches third place.

The Lady Wolverines end the season with a 36-4 record.

Hartsburg-Emden, with the smallest enrollment in the tournament listed at 64 students, finishes with the fourth place trophy and a 31-10 record.

The Stags gave it everything they had. It was a heartbreaking loss and there were lots of tears at CEFCU Arena. But for the small but mighty communities of Hartsburg and Emden volleyball is life and they welcomed the athletes and coaches back to town after the awards ceremony in Normal.

The girls were able to climb on firetrucks and ride through both communities before they were treated to cake and punch at an assembly back at the gym in Hartsburg.

Please take a moment and check out the video of the press conferences from CEFCU Arena. Coach Jennifer Hayes was brilliant with her words and positivity. Her players were hurting but they dug deep to offer their thoughts. This isn’t just a volleyball program, it’s a lifelong bond that teaches young girls so much beyond the court. Hayes orchestrates it all with the help of her staff and the players buy into it and thrive on and off the court. They truly are a family. And they are just some of the best young human beings you’ll ever come across.

Congratulations, Stags, on an amazing season!

Coach Hayes says practice starts August 11, 2025.

Alayna Briggs earns accolades
Alayna Briggs, a 5’11 junior outside hitter, was named to the 2024 Girls Volleyball State Finals All-Tournament Team on Saturday. She was also named to the First Team All-State Class 1A team by the Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association. Briggs finishes the 2024 season with a team-high 484 kills. She also led the team with 365 digs and 60 blocks. Her 51 aces was also tops on the team.

Celia Cross is one phenomenal setter
Celia Cross, a 5’10 junior, finished the season with a remarkable 891 assists. She is one phenomenal setter and without her the Stags do not achieve this level of success. The setter has to be athletic and quick on her feet as well as with her thinking. No one in the area does it better than Cross. As a team the Stags had 1,174 kills and while she did not have every assist, she did have a touch on just about every ball. She tallied 179 digs in her defensive efforts this season. If you want to start a team, you begin with an athlete like Cross.



Wishing Kylie a full recovery
The story cannot end without mention of Kylie Starcevic, the 5’2 senior libero who missed the postseason due to an injury. Starcevic separated her shoulder diving for a ball on Senior Night and she played the rest of the game that night, but she has not played since. She was missed in the lineup, especially that wicked serve of hers, and we wish her a full recovery.

Stags stats

Points
Sadie Williams 12
Allie Grelck 9
Alayna Briggs 7
Celia Cross 7
Cambelle Hopkins 7
Addi Briggs 2

Kills
Alayna Briggs 12
Ellie Klokkenga 7
Emma Eeten 6
Cambelle Hopkins 5
Addi Briggs 2
Sadie Williams 1

Blocks
Emma Eeten 3
Cambelle Hopkins 2
Alayna Briggs 1

Assists
Celia Cross 27

Digs
Alayna Briggs 9
Cambelle Hopkins 6
Allie Grelck 5
Sadie Williams 4
Addi Briggs 4
Celia Cross 2
Ellie Klokkenga 1

[Teena Lowery]