E-P’s best volleyball season as a co-op ends in Sweet 16

MANLIUS – Its first regional title as a co-op. A trip to the Sweet 16. A 10-0 conference run en route to a Three Rivers West title and a program-record 32 wins.

It was a season to remember for the Erie-Prophetstown Panthers.

The impressive run ended Thursday night as E-P fell 25-22, 25-16 to El Paso-Gridley in the Class 2A Bureau Valley Sectional title game. It was a matchup of two teams playing for their first sectional titles.

The Titans (30-7) were just the better team Thursday night.

“I think we started out a little slow in both games there but picked it up toward the end,” E-P coach Heather Bruns said. “They’re a great team. They’ve got hitters all the way around. It’s like they don’t have a hole in their offense, so that makes it hard as a team defending them to know where to go, where to block. They also don’t really have a hole in their defense.

“But I thought the girls fought really well, and it was fun to be here. I really think the nerves got to them at this point.”

The Titans advance the Class 2A Seneca Supersectional against Chicago Christian at 6 p.m. Monday.

E-P (32-4-2) trailed 20-13 in the opening set before Bruns took a timeout and reminded the team to play like it wanted it more.

The Panthers responded well, battling to a 22-20 deficit, but the Titans had an answer as they were in control most of the match. The Panthers carried momentum to the second set, leading 4-1, but the Titans again took control and did not surrender the lead after going up 6-5.

“I want to give them credit. They came out, they were ready to go,” Lauren Abbott said of the Titans. “They had some huge blocks and great defense, too.”

Sophomore Jaida Reed had five aces for the Titans. Senior Reese Deckard had eight kills and two blocks, and Taylor Langland had 12 assists.

“That serve-receive was uncharacteristic for us,” Bruns said. “We fought, did what we needed to do and we just came up short tonight.”

Kaylee Keegan had two aces, 19 assists and seven digs for E-P. Abbott, a fellow junior, led the team with 11 kills and had an ace and two blocks.

Senior Jamie Neumiller had three kills and seven digs. Junior Eden Jensen had three blocks.

Jensen said this season showed the team is capable of more than it may have imagined.

“I feel like we pushed really hard, and I’m really proud of us because we had a great season this year,” Jensen said. “I’m really proud of our seniors. They’ve done super, super well, even in practice and on the court.”

“I feel like our team at the beginning of the season, we really didn’t see it,” senior Peyton Umstead said. “But now we’re here. Even though it ended sooner than we wanted, we’re still so proud of ourselves for getting here. It was amazing to be a part of. I just hope the best for the juniors next year and hope they can carry that on.”

Despite the loss, E-P had great fan support. Thursday’s crowd was full of red and it felt like a home game at times. Bruns said the middle school basketball team postponed a game and other teams didn’t practice so they could come out and support the Panthers.

“Our community is amazing,” Bruns said. “At the end of the game, I told them to just look [at the crowd].”

This year’s E-P team raised the bar for the future. Bruns credited the five seniors for what they provided this season.

Bruns said Neumiller, a three-year varsity player, provided leadership, both physically and vocally. Kallie Wiseley helped provide relief and support for the team when it was needed. Umstead was a role model and provided a calm presence. Allie Russell and Mia Weidel were reliable off the bench.

“It’ll be tough losing those five and trying to find a way to replace them, but you know, we’re thankful for where they led us,” Bruns said. “I said, ‘You opened a door and got us here, so let’s keep building on it year after year.’

“I just think their drive, their desire, their want to be here and their cohesiveness as a team has really brought them this far.”

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Erie-Prophetstown reacts to losing in straight sets to El Paso-Gridley Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, during the class 2A volleyball sectional championship at Bureau Valley High School. (Alex T. Paschal)