For the second time in three years, the Hinton volleyball team ended as a state runner-up dropping a five-set thriller to top-ranked Denver on Thursday night in Coralville.
Despite the outcome, being a part of an all-time classic championship match is quite an experience. Co-head coach Kate Ortegren says she knew this was going to be a tough match.
Bailey Boeve says being one of the last teams standing is not something everyone experiences. She says she is proud of the Blackhawks’ effort.
The biggest thing going into the match for Hinton was not worrying about all the outside noise. Ellie Friessen says the team had to put that away and just play their game.
The match started off rough in many ways for Hinton who lost the first set and then was down 13-5 in the second set. After being down that much, the Blackhawks stormed back to win the second and take that momentum into the third. Coach Ortegren says there was a bit of time needed to get into the game.
The Blackhawks received some encouragement from a likely source. Boeve says she reminded the girls not to give up, and they found a way to win it.
Hinton was able to make some comebacks thanks to the phenomenal offensive play of Bailey Boeve. She re-broke her single-match record from the semifinal round with 38 kills on 81 attempts. Coach Ortegren says she got better as the week went on.
Boeve says it’s tough to get a good attack without a great pass from some great setters.
Hinton trailed again in set three and found a way to come back to win the set and take a 2-1 lead. That was aided by a great run of blocks that was put up by Friessen and Macie Charlson. Friessen got in on seven total blocks and says they just needed to make a slight adjustment to make those blocks happen.
With a 2-1 lead in the match, Hinton had a chance to win the state title in either the fourth or the fifth set. Denver got on a big run to take as much as an 11-point lead in the fourth set and won it. Then, the Cyclones got up 11-6 in the fifth set and rode that to a state title. Coach Ortegren says a few mistakes added up late in the match.
The season ends for Hinton with a 30-3 record and as state runner-up for the second time in three years. It also closes the book on the careers of six seniors who were vital contributors on three state tournament teams in their four years. Coach Ortegren says they were challenged early in the season, and they responded to the challenge.
The senior bond has taken the Blackhawks through just about every level of volleyball imaginable. Boeve says it was hard to see it end.
A bright side to all of this is that Hinton brings back four of their seven starters in the rotation including the libero. Friessen is one of those starters and says this experience will motivate the girls to get back here next year.
Coach Ortegren says the cupboard will not be bare as Hinton has many weapons she expects will leave a mark in the coming years.
The state title was Denver’s second in a row, and the Cyclones finish the season at 50-1.
