Trotters fall in five-set thriller with Loyola

If the first match of the 2024 season is any indication, the Plains Trotters volleyball team is going to be an improved, edge-of-your-seat squad.

Thursday night on their home court in Plains, the Trotters took perennial power Loyola Sacred Heart to the volleyball limiting before falling 3-2 in a five-set thriller. 

It didn’t look promising for the Trotters in the match’s opening set when they fell behind 2-0 right off the bat as Loyola quickly built on that early lead. 

By mid-set, Breakers were up 11-5, then stretched their advantage to 23-10 before sewing up a 25-10 first set win. 

But the Trotters were apparently just getting warmed up as they battled back in the second set, which featured six tie scores. After trailing Loyola 11-7 in the first portion of set number two, Plains knotted the score at 15-15.  The Trotters then scratched out a 23-20 lead behind a spirited comeback rally fueled by senior Lexie Deming and sophomore assist machine Clarie Lakko. 

Loyola fought back for a 24-all tie before Plains scored the final two points of the set for a 26-24 match tying win.  The set clinching point came on a long return by the Breakers of a Plains shot. 

Plains continued to attack and repel the Breakers in the third set, jumping out to a 2-1 lead, only to watch Loyola catch them at 6-6. The Trotters took a 7-6 lead and held onto the advantage, which at one point reached four points (12-8). 

A blocked shot by the Trotters kept their lead at three, 21-18 before the visitors rallied to tie the score at 21.  The Breakers took a one-point lead, 23-22, a short time later, and increased the margin to 24-22 as they appeared headed for a third set victory. 

However, Plains reached deep and evened the score at 24, took a one-point 25-24 lead, then saw Loyola produce yet another tie, 25-25. 

Plains hung on and scored the next two points to claim the third set, 27-25, with the set-clinching point coming on a block at the net.  At that point, the Trotters held a 2-1 set lead. 

The fourth set was also a back-and-forth matter, as Loyola took an early lead, before Plains caught them and tied the score at 15-each and again at 16.  Loyola took the lead at 17-16 and managed to pull away for a 25-19 set win, making it two sets each. 

In the fifth and deciding set, the back-and-forth action continued.  With either team needing to reach 15 points, volleyball’s equivalent of overtime, the fifth set was tied three times, the last tie at 10-10. 

Loyola scored four straight points to take a 14-10 lead before Plains fought back once again and pulled to within two points, 14-12.  The Breakers then wrapped up the match, scoring what was the last point of an exhausting, exhilarating evening of volleyball on their way to a 15-12 set win and a 3-2 match triumph. 

Plains got some outstanding play from several players during the match, topped by Deming’s team high 20 digs, and Lakko’s 20 assists. 

Senior Teagan Saner also had an outstanding game, leading the Trotters in kill shots with seven, service aces with six and racking up eight blocked shots.   Teammate Kali Tuma had an eye-popping 21 digs, while Saner pitched in 19 digs for the Trotters. 

Next up for Plains is a match this Thursday (Sept 12) against Mission High in St. Ignatius.  They return home Saturday (Sept 14) for a match versus Superior, with action beginning at 1 p.m. 

    Trotters Lexie Deming, Taylor Saner and Claire Lakko dive for a serve during Plains' match this past week in Plains. (Photo by Tracy Scott)