STREATOR - The spring 2021 Bulldog Spikers may not have had quite as many wins as they were hoping for this COVID-affected season, but Thursday evening at Pops Dale Gymnasium they earned the distinction of being the first Streator High volleyball squad to win its final game of the season.
Streator defeated visiting Reed-Custer in straight sets, 25-23, 25-22, to finish the campaign 4-10 overall and 2-5 in the Illinois Central Eight Conference. While the final scores of both sets were close, the Spikers led almost the entire way in both, winning the opener on a Comets service error and the second on a kill by primary setter Jozie Cole off an Abby Bedecker assist.
Cole’s final swing of the night was indicative of Streator’s offensive attack. The Bulldog Spikers — led on the bench by sophomore coach Steven Lopez filling in for varsity head coach Julie Gabehart — showed confidence and aggressiveness throughout on their way to victory, avenging a three-set loss earlier in the season.
“We definitely attacked, and I told the girls, ‘It’s your last game, go out with a bang,’ " Lopez said. " ‘Nobody wants to remember you tipping. You want to hit it hard and hit it hard with authority. ... Just go for it.’ "
A match-opening stuff block by Halie Grace followed by a Sydney Donahue kill and back-to-back-to-back ace serves from Kristen Lane got the home team going in an opening set in which the Spikers never trailed.
Reed-Custer — led on the night by the two-girl hitting attack of seniors Danielle Cherry (11 kills) and Maddie McPherson (six kills) — led briefly in the second set, at 6-5, but SHS regained control on three Mallory Goerne kills, a Grace ace and a Lana Krohe stuff block. A Goerne ace gave Streator its penultimate point, setting the stage for Cole’s match-winner and season-ender.
Grace with six kills, Goerne with five kills and two aces, Cole with 11 assists and Lane with three ace serves led the Streator attack. Libero Anna Schmitz’s eight digs as well as Cole’s six and five courtesy of Goerne led the Spikers defense.
”They played very well tonight,” said Lopez. “I’m super proud of them, especially for the seniors. I coached them when they were freshmen. Winning tonight is nice for them, and they definitely deserved it.”