Eureka volleyball escapes Plains with win

If Thursday’s match between unbeaten Eureka and unbeaten Plains was any indication, and it definitely was, the Western B volleyball playoffs this year are going to be awesome.

Eureka came to town with a 10-0 season record to face the Trotters who were 7-0. They were the top two teams in the Western 7B league. Something had to give. 

When the walls quit vibrating and the fans filed out of the Plains gym, Eureka had escaped with a 3-2 match victory that went down to the fan-pleasing end. 

After a brief early Plains lead in the first set, Eureka pulled slowly ahead and maintained a three or four point lead on their way to a 25-19 set victory and a 1-0 match lead. 

Then, Plains cranked it up in the second set behind their vocal, enthusiastic home fans and repeated the slight lead seen in the first set as the Trotters squared the match at 1-1 with a 25-19 set two of their own. 

Turned out both teams were just getting warmed up.  Eureka bounced back from the rare this season set loss and won the third set, which featured 10 ties and as many lead changes.  The Lady Lions managed to hang on for a 25-22 set three win, giving them a vital 2-1 match lead. 

However, the Trotters showed why they were undefeated coming into the match with a 25-22 thriller of a set four win to square the match at 2-2 and set up a fifth match, volleyball’s equivalent of overtime. 

The deciding fifth set did not disappoint.  There were four ties early in the set and the score was 13-12 before Eureka scored two straight points to win the set 15-12 and secure the match victory 3-2.   

Plains sophomore Claire Lakko, who routinely leads the team in assists, had a monster night with 39 assists three service aces and six kill shots. The balance of the Plains roster was displayed in the kills category where Lexi Deming, Taylor Saner and Teagan Saner had 11 kills each. 

Kali Tuma, who over the weekend was chosen as Homecoming Queen, also had an outstanding match for Plains, recording a team-high 28 digs to go with her five kills.  Teagan Saner had 25 digs, and Taylor Saner contributed 22 digs. 

Aubree Butcher, who was outstanding at the net, led the Trotters with seven blocks. Teagan Saner had five blocks and Lakko had four as Plains went toe-to-toe with the talented Eureka front. 

“It was a great game,” said Plains head volleyball coach Kim Lakko.  “Wish it would have gone our way, next time!  The community and student section has been amazing this year”. 

Earlier last week, the Trotters traveled to Troy for a match with the Lady Trojans, who put up a good fight in the first set before Plains pulled away to a 25-20 set win and 1-0 match advantage. 

The Trotters dominated set number two, winning 25-11 after jumping out to a big early lead.  Troy fought back in the third set but could not overcome the Trotters lead and steady play as Plains won 25-20 to secure the 3-0 sweep. 

Lakko had another solid match versus Troy, leading the Trotters in assists with 23, and blocks with five.  Butcher and Teagan Saner had seven kills each, while Deming chipped in six to go with her team-best 11 digs. Teagan Saner was the team leader in aces with 11.  Saner and Tuma had nine digs each for the Trotters. 

This week the Trotters travel to Superior this Thursday (Oct 10) to face the Lady Bobcats, then return home Saturday for an afternoon match versus Mission.