Sullivan Falls In Five At Sectionals
The Lady Eagles volleyball team wrapped up their season on Thursday at Eldon. Sullivan had a monumental season that will be remembered in school history. Seniors Maci Nolie and Emma Brune both broke school records this season and led the team to a district championship. The Lady Eagles finished the season with a spectacular 21-13-3 record. The game at Eldon was back and forth with Sullivan winning the first set, 25-23. The Lady Mustangs won the next match, 26-24. The Lady Eagles fought back and won the third match, 25-14. Eldon took the game to a tie breaking set when they won the fourth set, 25-17. The fifth set only went to 15 and Eldon defeated Sullivan, 15-7.
In the first set, a tone was set that would continue throughout the night. Eldon and Sullivan were both the best volleyball teams in their district and their talent showed on Thursday. Sullivan scored the first point, but the Lady Mustangs fought back. Brune got a kill when she gave Sullivan the lead, 3-2. Stevi Saling got a big block for Sullivan and Sullivan was up, 5-3. Eldon tied up the game, but Sullivan tied the game at six when Eldon sent a ball in the net. Head Coach Sarah Rochleau decided to take a timeout when Sullivan was down, 10-6. Senior Olivia Witt scored Sullivan’s next point on a kill. Nolie set Witt up for a beautiful point. Ava Blankenship and Abby Record blocked the ball for the next point, Blankenship and Brune stood tall in the front row and Eldon took timeout when they were up by three, 14-11. Sullivan started to bridge the gap when Brune recorded another kill for Sullivan, 17-14. Witt tied the game at 17 and tied it again at 18 both with staggering kills. The Lady Eagles tied the game at 22 and Eldon broke the tie. Anna Brooks tied the score again at 23 with a kill and Sullivan took a timeout when they took the lead. The Lady Eagles defeated Eldon in the first match, 25-23.
In the second match, the Lady Mustangs tried to take control of the game. Sullivan scored the first point, but Eldon tied it up right away. Blankenship ensured Sullivan was only down by one with a kill, 3-2. They tied the game at four and again at five when Brune recorded another kill. Nolie broke the tie, but Eldon tied it back up. Sullivan tied it again at seven, but Eldon took the lead and rallied some further points. Coach Rochleau took a timeout when Sullivan was down, 11-7. Witt helped Sullivan with a kill when they were down by three, 13-10. The Lady Eagles scared Eldon into taking a timeout when Sullivan bridged the gap, 18-15. The Lady Eagles took a timeout when they were down by three, 20-17. Brooks made Sullivan only down by two with a kill, 22-20. Witt scored the next point and Eldon took a timeout, 22-21. Nolie was serving when Sullivan tied the score at 24. Eldon won the match when a ball went out, 26-24.
In the third set, Sullivan won the set by a bigger margin. They scored the first point and Eldon tied it back. Brune scored two big points back to back, 4-1. Eldon took a timeout when Sullivan had the lead, 8-1. They scored again and Eldon finally scored their second point, 9-2. Brune continued her domination, 12-4. She delivered again and made the score 14-6. Saling got one added to the scoreboard, 16-7. Blankenship tallied another point, 17-8 and Sullivan went on a big run. The Lady Eagles collapsed the Lady Mustangs, 25-14.
In the fourth set, Eldon returned fire and won the match. They scored the first point and Sullivan tied it up. Coach Rochleau took a timeout when Sullivan was down, 11-5. Witt and Brune scored points and Eldon was forced to take a timeout when they were still up by five, 15-10. Coach Rochleau took a timeout after Eldon scored three more points. The Lady Eagles sent a ball in the net when Eldon was up by seven, 20-13. Eldon secured the win when a ball went out on Sullivan, 25-17.
In the final set, Sullivan’s season came to an end in a heartbreaking match. The Lady Mustangs scored the first three points unanswered and Sullivan took a time out. Eldon scored two more times before Sullivan added a point. Brune hit a ball through a block and Eldon took a time out, 5-3. Brune blasted two more kills, 6-5. Sullivan tied up the game at six when Nolie set Brune up for a beautiful play. Eldon took a timeout when they were only up by four, 10-6. Nolie set Brune up again for a score, 12-7. Eldon secured the victory when Sullivan sent a ball out, 15-7.
Brune led in kills with a staggering 32. She also had one ace and two points. Witt followed in kills with 17, but led in points with 12. She also had one assist. Saling had six kills. Blankenship blasted five kills. Record notched two kills and was followed by Brooks with one. Shelby Giebler had eleven points and Emily Clonts had one. Raegan Johnson finished with nine points.
Nolie led the team in assists with a stellar 53. She also rocked one kill and four points.