Junior Olivia Adkins and senior Emma Barchus led the team with 10 kills each, but the Pine River-Backus volleyball team fell 3-1 to the fifth-ranked Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Wolves in the subsection finals on Thursday, Oct. 31.
"We definitely didn't play the way we wanted to, but Walker had a lot to do with that," Coach Josh Hirschey said. "We just weren't ready to play in the first game. I wish I knew why. I thought our routine was good and we were ready. It started as bad as it could have - we had a net call, then hit the ball out of bounds and it snowballed from there."
The Tigers fell in the opening set 25-11, and in the second set 25-20. They bounced back in the third set with a 25-18 victory, but were eliminated in the fourth by a score of 25-16.
Claire Dahl led the team with 13 digs, while Jaime Johnson had 11 digs to go with her 9 kills, and Rylie Hirschey added 29 set assists.
As a team, the Tigers recorded 11 ace serves.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We didn't want it to end like this, but we had a heck of a year," Hirschey said. "You put so much into it and you hope that you play your best right now. That's probably what hurts the most. No discredit to Walker - they played outstanding - but it just didn't really feel like we ever got going tonight."
The Tigers finish the season with a record of 28-4, and now part ways with two seniors - Emma Barchus and Anna Felthous.
"They are as good a group of kids you could ever have," Hirschey said.
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 25 25 18 25
Pine River-Backus 11 20 25 16
Pine River-Backus statistics (kills, set assists, blocks, digs, ace serves)
ADVERTISEMENT
Claire Dahl 13 digs, 2 ace serves
Emma Barchus 9 digs, 10 kills, 1 ace serve
Hannah Barchus 1 set assist, 10 digs, 3 kills, 1 block, 3 ace serves
Anna Felthous 1 dig, 5 kills
Jaime Johnson 11 digs, 9 kills, 1 block, 2 ace serves
Olivia Adkins 2 set assists, 9 digs, 10 kills, 1 block, 1 ace serve
Rylie Hirschey 29 set assists, 5 digs, 2 kills, 1 block, 2 ace serves
ADVERTISEMENT
