St. Bede Volleyball Overcomes Mid-Match Slump to Beat Earlville
Source: The Shaw Local News Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
St. Bede's volleyball team showed resilience on Monday night, weathering a second-set storm to defeat host Earlville in straight sets, 25-15, 25-20. The Bruins (5-1-2) appeared to be cruising after a lopsided first set, but the Red Raiders (2-2) came out with renewed energy in the second, building a 10-7 lead that forced St. Bede coach Nicole Trenka to call a timeout.
"We had a few points in a row where we made some mistakes," said junior middle hitter Kijah Lucas, who finished with a match-high nine kills. "We weren't playing like we can. Coach Trenka called the timeout, and really her message was just, 'We need to get to playing to the level we can.' I feel like we as players knew that, but just getting that break and coach's encouragement got us back on track right away."
The Bruins responded emphatically, scoring 15 of the next 20 points. The rally began with back-to-back kills from Hanna Waszkowiak and an ace from Nelle Potthoff, who also contributed five digs. Setter Lila Koehler added two aces during the stretch, and Lucas delivered three kills as St. Bede seized a 22-15 lead. Earlville managed to close within 23-19 on a kill by Jacey Helgesen, but Waszkowiak and Hannah Heilberger sealed the match with consecutive kills.
"I feel like so far this season, our energy, on the court and on the bench, has been really good," Lucas said. "Other than a few points in the second set where we struggled, I feel like we played really well."
The first set was a different story. St. Bede jumped to a 5-0 lead and never looked back, using consecutive aces from Koehler to build a 15-8 advantage. A pair of kills by Waszkowiak, another by Potthoff, and a set-point ace from Bentlea Ernat closed out the set. Ernat finished with seven digs and an ace, while Koehler recorded 14 assists and four aces. Waszkowiak and Potthoff each had five kills.
Lucas credited her success to reading the defense. "Normally before I go up to swing, I already have a spot I'm going to hit to in mind," she said. "Tonight the middle of the court was open a lot, so that's where I was going for the most part. [Setter] Lila [Koehler] was really good, spot on tonight, which made it that much easier for me."
Trenka praised the team's balance. "I feel like this season we have a lot of girls who are very good hitters, and that's a great thing to have," she said. "Kijah led us in kills, but then we had a handful of other girls who had a handful as well. The main thing is, and it showed tonight, if we can pass well everything is going to feed off that. I thought our back-row play was pretty solid tonight, and that in turn made the offense run pretty smooth."
Earlville, coming off a tough loss to Plano, showed signs of improvement. Kyley Helgesen sparked the second-set run with a six-point service streak, including a kill by Kiley Franzese. Franzese, Jacey Helgesen, and Audrey Scherer each had two kills, while Scherer served up three aces. Coach Tonya Scherer pointed to better serve-receive as a positive. "I thought we served well and passed off serve-receive well tonight," she said. "Our serve-receive really struggled in our last match against Plano, so it was good to see the improvement tonight. I'm seeing overall improvement from match to match, so we'll just keep working on getting better."
Scherer also noted the challenge of facing St. Bede's height and speed. "The first set we were just kind of standing around, and St. Bede took advantage of that. They run a fast offense, and that isn't something we'd seen before tonight. Then in the second set we had way better energy and stuck with them for the most part. We don't have a lot of height, so with all the tall hitters St. Bede has, it was tough to really slow them down."
Earlville returns to action Tuesday at DePue, while St. Bede hosts Serena on Wednesday.
Article commentary
St. Bede's straight-set victory over Earlville on Monday was more than just a routine win; it was a showcase of the Bruins' depth and mental toughness. After dominating the first set, the team faced a genuine test when Earlville stormed ahead in the second. The timeout called by coach Nicole Trenka proved pivotal, not because of any tactical overhaul, but because it reset the team's focus. This ability to recalibrate under pressure is a hallmark of successful programs, and St. Bede's response—scoring 15 of the next 20 points—demonstrates a maturity that bodes well for the season. Junior middle hitter Kijah Lucas continues to be a force at the net, leading all players with nine kills. Her ability to read the defense and exploit open spaces, combined with setter Lila Koehler's precision, gives the Bruins a potent offensive combination. But what stands out is the balance. Hanna Waszkowiak and Nelle Potthoff each contributed five kills, and Bentlea Ernat's seven digs anchored the back row. Trenka's emphasis on passing as the foundation of the offense is paying dividends; when the serve-receive is solid, the attackers have time to set up and execute. For Earlville, the night was a mixed bag. The Red Raiders showed flashes of promise, particularly in the second set when Kyley Helgesen's service run turned the momentum. Coach Tonya Scherer noted improvement in serve-receive, a critical area after a tough loss to Plano. However, the team's lack of height remains a vulnerability against a team like St. Bede, which boasts multiple tall hitters and a fast-paced attack. Earlville's ability to hang with the Bruins for stretches suggests they are competitive, but they need to sustain that energy for entire sets. Looking ahead, St. Bede's 5-1-2 record reflects a team that is still finding its rhythm but has a solid foundation. The Bruins host Serena on Wednesday, a matchup that should test their consistency. Earlville, at 2-2, faces DePue on Tuesday—a chance to build on the positives from this match. The key for both teams will be maintaining focus and execution, especially in high-pressure moments. St. Bede's ability to rally after a lull shows they have the mental edge, while Earlville must learn to start strong and avoid the slow starts that allowed the Bruins to seize control early.