FARWELL — The Hart Pirates weren't intimidated by the moment or the opponent, top-ranked Roscommon, in Tuesday's regional semifinal match in Farwell. They brought their best and executed their plan; but as coach Shawn Bectel noted, it wasn't quite enough.
After taking the Bucks nearly the distance in each of the first two games of Tuesday's match, Hart ran out of gas in game three, losing a 25-22, 25-22, 25-12 decision to end its season at 30-13-3.
"Ultimately, the girls played their butts off," Bectel said. "I don't have any regrets. I think that this was an amazing season. We'd love to go more, but honestly, that might be your state championship right there. It wouldn't shock me. It hurts the heart a little bit, but it is what it is."
The match featured two games chock full of high-level volleyball on both sides. If there's one that might cost the Pirates some sleep, it would be game one, which saw two early net violations called against them and a pivotal sequence of four straight Hart errors that turned an 8-6 Hart lead into a 10-8 deficit. Roscommon extended that lead to 15-9 and it appeared the game was in danger of getting away.
Hart, though, battled back to get back in, going on a run that included a big ace from Grace Tucker and a tandem block by freshman middle hitters Peyton Erickson and Mya Hovey, who both played a remarkable match against senior Roscommon counterpart Nemiah Carper. The Pirates got as close as two points down the stretch before the Bucks scored the final point.
"I really think we could have won that one easily had we just not shot ourselves in the foot," Bectel said. "But we were being aggressive, and when you're aggressive, you are going to make mistakes. I'm not going to take anything from them, because they're the No. 1 team in the state for a reason."
Game two played out similarly, with Roscommon taking an early lead but Hart refusing to bow. The Pirates scored three straight points again to get it to 24-22, but again Roscommon held them off.
No doubt mentally drained from keeping up with the Bucks for two games, Hart fell behind 4-0 and 7-1 to start game three and was never able to dig out of that hole. The Bucks' outside hitters, sisters Mara and Reese Williams, took over at times with their ability to send spikes over accurately and with impressive force.
"A couple things go our way and we probably win that first set, and then that might change the whole landscape of the game because confidence is everything in this sport," Bectel said. "At the end of the day, though, what we've achieved as a group with these kids...It was fun to take this group of kids and give them the sendoff that they deserved. A conference title and a district title is not a shabby thing to have."
Erickson and Hovey not only matching up with Carper but being the Pirates' most impressive players all night in doing so - both hit over .200 - was an experience that should propel both freshmen forward towards what promise to be impressive careers. Bectel made note of that, and also complimented senior leaders Reese Smith, Alayna Schiller and Jenna Babbin - each of whom had outstanding seasons themselves - for creating a team environment that helped those players flourish.
"I always preach about paving the way for others, and I think those seniors absolutely did that," Bectel said. "I think that's where that success from the younger ones come from, because young kids, they come in, and if they don't have seniors that take them under their wing, they fail a lot. I think the fact that this team is a team was that big thing. For me, that's honestly one of the things I'm most proud of."
It won't be just those three graduating from this team, as setter Calyn Eisenlohr and contributors Ava Johnson and Caydence Bateson also played their final varsity matches Tuesday. There is young talent on the way, though, and juniors Braelynn Talmadge and Grace Tucker both project as the team's next veteran leaders. Hart has no intentions of making this a one-year wonder.
"They've been bought in since the start, and I think they've done a great job," Bectel said. "You're probably going to see some of the younger kids step up, too."
Smith had a team-high 12 kills, with Erickson adding nine, and Schiller racked up 26 digs, including saving some wicked attacks from the Williams sisters. Hart served well, with only three errors. Eisenlohr had 15 assists, with Tucker chipping in nine. Erickson and Babbin each recorded three blocks.
Roscommon likely has several more matches in front of it, and while it won't erase Tuesday's sting, Bectel said it was clear his team got a look at the best; Roscommon previously blasted through two matches in its district while only once in six games allowing more than 13 points.
"I told the girls, there's always going to be only one winner at the end of the season, and we might have seen them tonight," Bectel said. "It sucks we had to get them early, but that might be one of the toughest matches they play."
