Brune, Rochleau, and Lady Eagles Post Midseason Comeback

Sullivan Head Coach Sarah Rochleau secured her 200th career win in early October 2021 at a tournament in Rolla. The big career milestone gave the Lady Eagles the motivation they needed to finish the season on a strong note. Their season ended with a 12-15-6 record. Emma Brune led the team in kills with 333 and was followed by Abby Wiegers with 118. The lead performer in aces was Maci Nolie with 43. Senior Morgan Clonts, recorded 29 aces on the year. She nailed 12 kills and led in digs with 463. Anna Brooks followed Nolie in aces with 31. She also got nine kills. Cassidy Cunningham tallied 63 kills.

Sullivan fell the first two games and were victorious for the first time when they traveled to Waynesville. Sullivan defeated the Waynesville Tigers in three sets, 25-20, 25-10, and 25-20.

With a record of 2-5-3, so far on the season, the Lady Eagles traveled to Cuba and surged past the Lady Wildcats in three sets, 25-19, 25-17, and 25-19. Brune excelled with a recorded nine kills, two aces, and five points on the game.

Rochleau and the Lady Eagles fell to Hermann and Pacific, before competing in the Troy Buchanan tournament. Two days after, Sullivan fell at Summit in three sets. The last set being a close battle, 25-23. It was during their tournament in Rolla that the Lady Eagles came alive the rest of the season. Rochleau picked up her 200th career win and the momentum shifted.

Sullivan picked up three wins in a row. Their game in Union entered into one extra set. Sullivan subdued the Lady Wildcats in the first set, 25-21. Union took the next two sets, 25-20 and 25-14, but the Lady Eagles rallied and conquered the next two sets, 25-23 and 15-11. Brune claimed another 15 kills and five points on the game. The lone underclassman, Raegan Johnson followed with seven kills, one ace, and two points.

Sullivan suffered heartbreak at home against two Franklin County opponents. The Lady Eagles came up short with one game going into an extra set. The first two sets against Washington were a tough battle. The Lady Blue Jays squeezed by the first set 25-23 and Sullivan defeated them the next set with the same score. Washington won the next set 25-19, but Sullivan rallied and took the next set, 25-21. The Lady Blue Jays were victorious in the last set 15-3.

Brune blasted 29 kills over the next two games. The Lady Eagles flew over St. James and New Haven. Sullivan slammed St. James, 25-9, 25-19, and 25-22. The Lady Eagles tallied a total of 37 kills against the Lady Tigers. Nolie nailed three kills, two aces, and  eight points. Johnson followed Brune in the game with eight kills. She also recorded two aces and eight points. New Haven fell to Sullivan in three sets, 25-14, 25-15, and 25-20.

Sullivan fell in the first round of the post season with a game that went into an extra set. Sullivan traveled to Union and suffered a repeat heartbreak. It seemed as deja vu when the Lady Wildcats took the game in an extra set. This time Union got the first set 25-23. Sullivan claimed the next set 25-20. Union rallied on the next set and won 26-24. The battle continued as Sullivan took the next set, 25-17. The last set was close, 15-12, Union on top. Brune recorded another staggering amount of kills with 21. Johnson jotted 10 kills, one ace, and four points. Senior, Wiegers closed out nine kills and Nolie added three.

Rochleau and the Lady Eagles are looking to continue the improvement as the 2022 season draws near. The Lady Eagles will have an uphill battle without last season’s standout seniors, Clonts, Cunningham, and Wiegers.