Normal U-High advances to Class 3A Volleyball Super Sectional
NORMAL, Ill. — With multiple high schools in Bloomington-Normal, most sports hold an annual Intercity Tournament giving one school bragging rights for the season, but at times two of our local teams are matched up in the post season and unfortunately only one can prevail.
That was the case for 2022-23 Class 3A Volleyball Sectional where last years’ 3rd Place State Finalists Normal West Wildcats found themselves matched up with the young and hungry Normal U-High Pioneers. It was a high quality, hard fought, three-match battle of who made the least amount of errors. In the end the Pioneers came out on top. 18-25, 25-17, 25-20.
Normal West won this season’s Intercity match-up versus U-high in a three match battle earlier this season, so U-high was on a mission. The Pioneers have grown both their skill sets and their team chemistry since that match up and their team camaraderie was apparent on the court.
After losing the first set, Pioneer head coach Mike Bolhuis encouraged his girls to stick with it and go grab the second set because West plays a clean game and wasn’t going to just hand it to them.
Back on the court, the young Pioneer team looked to senior, U of I recruit, Lily Barry for her leadership. Lily remembered what it was like as a freshman and helped keep her teammates calm and poised during some key high-tension moments. In match-ups like these when all else is equal, mindset is definitely key.
The second set was tied from points 4 through 12 with each team answering the other before U-high took a 15-12 lead on a couple uncharacteristic errors by the Wildcats. After a couple more rallies and a couple West time outs, the Wildcats just couldn’t seem to swing the momentum in their direction. The Pioneers snagged the second set 25-17.
U-high held their poise and had the momentum coming out with a 5-1 lead to start the third set. The Pioneers played a clean game making it difficult for the Wildcats to close the early gap. Down 19-14, West coach, Kelsey Mueller called a time out and pulled her team together for a pep talk. They agreed they weren’t going down, the Pioneers were going to have to take it from them. The Wildcats then put together a late rally and squeezed the deficit to one point at 20-19 with a solid serving effort from sophomore Shelby Sennett.
In the end, the Wildcats could not tip the scale in their favor, and the Pioneers took set three 25-20 after junior outside, Rachel Ogunleye came through with back to back kills and senior outside, Barry sealed the deal with her game winning kill.
U-high’s two young setters did a great job getting the ball into the right hands at the right moments. Sophomore Lola Clayton had 20 assists, while freshman, Mo Peteline added 13.
It was an overall balanced attack from the Pioneers’ offense. Barry led the way with 11 kills, Ogunleye with 10, Caroline Leak with 7, and freshman Laney Snow contributing 5.
On defense, Leak and Barry led the way on digs with 8 and 7 respectively and Ogunleye and junior Jozy Lee had 2 blocks a piece.
For Normal West, Morehead State recruit, Sydney Sennett, led her team with 28 assists and 8 digs. Sophomore Ellie Rink led the Wildcats offense bringing in 10 kills and her sister Emma, added six of her own. On defense junior Sydnie Hernandez had eight digs and senior Ashlyn Hicks contributed 3 blocks.
The Pioneers (34-5) advance to the Chatham Glenwood Super Sectional where they will meet Taylorville (29-9-1) on Friday at 6pm.
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