Perryville volleyball team falls short of final four

THE PIRATES fell in straight sets to Lutheran South in the Class 3 quarterfinals

By Bill Hester

Southeast Missourian

ST. LOUIS -- The hugs were there once again for the Perryville girls volleyball team after their Class 3 quarterfinal match Saturday against Lutheran South.

But they didn't have quite the same feeling as last year at Lutheran South when the Pirates won their match in three games and became the first Perryville volleyball team to qualify for the Class 3 final four.

Perryville outside hitter Alex Spears, left, and defensive specialist Maria Thieret walk from the court after the Pirates' 25-16, 25-23 loss to Lutheran South Lancers Saturday, Nov. 2, at University City High School in St. Louis, Mo. (Adam Vogler)

The rosters for both teams had changed quite a bit this fall, and the final result also was different. The Lancers ended Perryville's season with a 25-16, 25-23 victory at University City High School on Saturday.

"Next year we want those hugs to be celebratory ones like last year and not sad ones like this year," Pirate coach David Mirly said.

And next year's team should include everyone but Kaylie Hadler, the lone senior.

"A match like this is definitely going to motivate us for next season," junior Alex Spears said. "We are going to just have to push harder than we ever have before."

Perryville, which easily defeated the host Lions 25-3, 25-9 in the sectional round earlier Saturday, finished the season with 30 wins. That gives them 122 over the last four years.

Perryville’s Alex Spears makes a dig during the second game of the Class 3 quarterfinal match against Lutheran South at University City High School. (Adam Vogler)

"I don't know if there is another school in the state that has that many," Mirly said.

There were a number of question marks coming into the 2013 season after the graduation of a number of key players from last year's team that placed fourth at the Class 3 final four.

"From the beginning we knew that we would have to work harder," Hadler said. "We had to figure some things out and it took some time. But we won our district, which was a huge goal, and gave ourselves a chance to get back to the state tournament."

The Pirates made some uncharacteristic errors in the first game of the quarterfinals and fell behind 14-7. They came back to within a point at 14-13 on a kill by Brooke Hogard but never were able to take the lead.

"We made a lot of mistakes in the first game," Mirly said. "But I told them that it didn't matter if we lost 29-27 or 25-16. We made some adjustments and played much better in the second game. It was two great teams slugging it out. The bottom line is that they made just a few more plays than we did."

Perryville outside hitter Alex Spears dives trying to make a dig during the second set of the Pirates' 25-16, 25-23 loss to Lutheran South Lancers Saturday, Nov. 2, at University City High School in St. Louis, Mo. (Adam Vogler)

Unlike the first game, when the Pirates never had the lead after a rotation, Perryville started strong in the second game and had a lead of 14-8. But Lutheran South went on a five-point run and the match eventually came down to a hitting exhibition between Spears and talented Lancer freshman Lekeior Member-Mench.

The stars exchanged highlight-type kills, and things looked good for the Pirates after Spears and Alinie Hadler teamed up for a huge block to give Perryville a 22-20 advantage.

But Lutheran South score dfive of the match's final six points to earn a ticket to this weekend's final four at the Show Me Center.

"I just wish we could have gotten it to a third game," Spears said. "I think that would have been quite a battle. At the end of the day, it is what it is. Lutheran South is a really good team and they deserved to win."

Lutheran South (19-10-3) had quite the battle in its sectional contest, coming from behind to defeat Windsor 20-25, 27-25, 29-27.

Perryville’s Brooke Hogard makes a dig during the second game of the Pirates’ 25-16, 25-23 loss to Lutheran South in the Class 3 quarterfinals Saturday at University City High School. (Adam Vogler)

Perryville finished its season at 30-5-5.

"We had a lot of goals, including winning a state championship," Mirly said. "But I told them at the beginning of the season that our success was not going to be determined by whether we get to the state tournament. It would be determined by how we practiced, how we acted and how we played. And these girls were awesome.

"Kaylie was a great leader and a great example of what this program is all about. I told the rest of the girls to remember this feeling and remember this taste. I am sure they are going to work hard and be ready for another big season next year."

And Hadler will be among the Perryville fans rooting them on.

"I will never forget playing high school volleyball," said Hadler, who played three years on the varsity team. "It was like a family, and these teammates are some of my best friends. I am going to miss it, but I will be watching them next year."