Second set stronger for Bulldog Spikers in senior-night loss to Manteno

STREATOR – Senior night of this one-of-a-kind spring 2021 volleyball season didn’t start off the way the Streator Bulldog Spikers were hoping, but they can be a lot prouder of how they finished it.

Streator fell in straight sets to visiting Manteno here early Tuesday evening at Pops Dale Gymnasium, it’s true, but the Spikers were able to shake off an incredibly rough start to hang with a strong Lady Panthers squad almost to the end in the second set of a 25-7, 25-18, Illinois Central Eight Conference defeat.

“Our serve-receive was the difference,” said Streator senior Kristen Lane. “We had better serve-receive and better coverage the second set, and that sets up the whole play. ...

“I really enjoyed tonight. It really meant a lot to me being able to walk out here. It would’ve really sucked to have never had this season and have it all end last year not knowing it was your last game.”

Lane put together a standout performance, recording team highs in digs (nine) and kills (three) along with an ace. Also honored before the match and in the Bulldog Spikers’ all-senior starting lineup were Lana Krohe (one dig, one kill), Halie Grace (one ace, two stuff blocks), Natali Haynes (one dig, one kill), setter Jozie Cole (five assists, five digs), Sydney Donahue (two kills) and libero Anna Schmitz (eight digs).

“I’m really proud of how [the team] came back the second game. Manteno is a tough team, always at the top of the conference. They run a really fast offense, faster than we’ve seen all year, but I feel like the girls did a fantastic job adjusting to it.”

—  Streator volleyball coach Julie Gabehart

Serve-receive, though, was indeed the main issue for Streator (3-8 overall, 1-5 IC8) in Tuesday’s opening set against the Lady Panthers (6-1, 6-0).

Manteno’s Dayli Dwyer took the ball to the service line to start things off and immediately served up an ace. She would go on to serve nine more times – including two aces in addition to the game-opener – and build a 9-0 Lady Panthers advantage before Streator managed to finally force a sideout thanks to a Cole-to-Lane kill connection.

Kills courtesy of Donahue and Krohe along with Grace’s two blocks on consecutive rallies accounted for Streator’s points in the opener, but the hosts never threatened after the slow start.

The night’s second set started much like the first, with Manteno rattling off the initial five points led by a pair of Reese Bachus kills. But a service error, a Bella Dean kill off a Cole assist, and an ensuing ace serve off the hand of Lane drew the Bulldog Spikers to within two points, and they managed to stay within striking distance for the majority of the set.

“Senior night is always kind of a tough one. Emotions are running high,” Streator coach Julie Gabehart said. “I just think we played tight that first game with all the seniors out on the court together.

“But I’m really proud of how [the team] came back the second game. Manteno is a tough team, always at the top of the conference. They run a really fast offense, faster than we’ve seen all year, but I feel like the girls did a fantastic job adjusting to it.”

Highlights included two Grace service points on an ace and a Lane kill of a Manteno overpass; winning five of six rallies thanks in large part to point-saving defensive work from Schmitz, Cole and Lane; and a Dean winner which drew Streator to within one point – at 19-18 – but turned out to be the Bulldog Spikers’ final point of the match.

“I’m just glad the seniors got this night,” Gabehart said. “We’ve gotten in all our games so far, and God willing, we’ve got one more week to go.

“The seniors have been great leaders for this program. It’s going to be hard to see them leave.”

A Midori Dotson kill and then five straight service points from Bachus, including two aces and Elena Gomez’s match-ending kill, closed out the night.

The Bulldog Spikers are scheduled to visit Lisle on Thursday, then return to The Pops on Monday to host Yorkville Christian.