USC’s Jaelyn Stangler (4), left photo, hits a kill shot past ML/GHEC/T’s Londyn Bowers (7) during the Section 2A Volleyball Tournament. Madison Passer (9), right photo, jumps to return a Jaguars’ hit while Alivia Bruegger (5) is ready to help, if needed.

Two closely matched teams met on the volleyball court last Monday, Oct. 21, when the No. 8-seeded Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman Jaguars hosted the No. 9-seeded United South Central Rebels in the opening round of the Section 2A Volleyball Tournament.

The match went to five sets with the Jags ultimately prevailing 18-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-9.

“Great fight from the kids tonight,” USC coach Joe Kuechenmeister said after the game. “It’s just hard to lose in a decider when we started out so strong.”

USC and ML/GHEC/T battled to an early tie in the opening set before the Rebels’ Chloe Bullerman stepped to the service line.

A kill by Madison Passer put the Rebels out in front 6-5 and misplays by the Jaguars gave USC three more points and a 9-5 lead. A kill and an ace block by Jaelyn Stangler increased the visitor’s lead to 11-5.

ML/GHEC/T hung around and an ace block by the Jaguars’ Madisen Lewis cut the Rebels’ advantage to two points at 16-14.

Two good plays at the net by USC’s Alivia Bruegger gave the Rebels a four-point cushion.

USC increased their lead to six points at 20-14 when ML/GHEC/T hit a ball into the net and then were charged with a net violation.

The Rebels maintained their advantage and were leading 24-18 when Bullerman hit the winning shot to give USC the first set 25-18.

ML/GHEC/T took the early lead in the second set and held a three-point advantage at 8-5 before USC rattled off three straight points to tie the set at 8-8.

The score was tied at 13-13 when the Jaguars hit a net serve followed by three hits out-of-bounds to make it a 17-13 game in favor of the Rebels.

USC continued to pull away and scored the winning point on a kill by Passer for the 25-17 victory.

“The first two sets were some of the best volleyball we played all year long,” Kuechenmeister commented. “We were so close to closing things out in set three and moving on.”

ML/GHEC/T fell behind 3-0 to USC to begin the third set before catching fire and scoring seven out of the next eight points to take a 7-4 lead over the Rebels.

However, a rotation error by the Jaguars was discovered and by the time everything was sorted out, the score was adjusted to show the Rebels holding a 5-3 lead.

USC’s lead increased to 8-4 before ML/GHEC/T’s Londyn Bowers caught fire and turned the set, and the match, around.

The Jags’ outside hitter’s hard kills began finding the open spots in the Rebels’ defense which allowed the host team to score six unanswered points to regain the lead 10-8.

USC rallied to tie the game at 11-11 but a kill by Bowers put ML/GHEC/T in front for good.

It appeared the Jaguars were going to win the third set quite easily when they cruised to a 23-17 lead. However, the Rebels kept battling and cut ML/GHEC/T’s advantage to 24-23 before the Jaguars scored the next point to claim the third set 25-23.

The score was tied 4-4 in the fourth set before the Jaguars scored the fifth point to take the lead for good.

The fifth and deciding set saw ML/GHEC/T jump out to a 7-1 lead. However, USC turned things around and fought back to cut their deficit to two points with the Jaguars on top 9-7. Then, Bowers took over with three kills and a tip to help ML/GHEC/T close out the set and the match with a 15-9 victory.

“Credit the Jags for raising their level of play,” Kuechenmeister said. “They cleaned up their passing game and were able to be in system more in sets three through five. We tightened up a bit and were never able to recover.”

Passer finished the night with 14 kills, four digs, one block and one ace. Bullerman had 11 kills, three digs, six blocks and an ace. Bruegger had 10 kills six digs and three blocks. Hannah Warmka had eight kills, one dig and a block and Jaelyn Stangler finished with five kills and six blocks. Karly Koehler had 20 digs and one ace, Presley Brandenburg had eight digs and five aces while Eleny Korn had 38 assists, one kill, one dig and two aces.

The Jaguars were led by Bowers with 22 kills, nine digs, three blocks and four aces while Lewis finished with nine kills, six digs and two blocks. Keira Benck contributed 21 assists.

“We ended our season with a 13-13 record,” Kuechenmeister remarked. “Though it’s a tough loss, it doesn’t discredit the body of work this team put together this season. We ended at .500 for the first time in 10 years and that’s in large part to the work these kids put in, both in and out of the season. There were big shoes to fill after last year, and this group rose to the occasion, accepted the challenge, and had success in doing so. I’m proud of what they accomplished and sad to see it end.”

USC finishes its season with an overall record of 13-13. They were 4-6 in the Gopher Conference. Playing in their last match for the Rebels were seniors Passer, Warmka, Korn and Koehler.