By Blake Haas

NORMAL – A short drive made for a short night for the U-High Pioneers Girls Volleyball team in the Class 3A State Semifinal at Redbird Arena.

The result was 25-13, 25-21 victory for Belleville Althoff Catholic High School (40-1) over the Pioneers of U-High (28-11). The Pioneers were led by junior Macy Tongate who had five kills on the evening.

U-High coach Mike Bolhuis said even though Redbird Arena is in the Pioneers back door, it was different being under the state semifinal lights.

“As a team we haven’t been on this stage before,” Bolhuis said. “We were trying to avoid that first set as much as possible, for what ever reason you’re not as used to playing the volleyball that you are used to.”

Althoff was a state semifinalist a year ago when they finished third. Bolhuis said the Pioneers lack of experience was a factor, particularly in the first set.

“How we play is a little more of that second set,” Bolhuis added. “Coming into the match we talked about how we wanted to avoid a set one, and you are playing a team like Althoff who was on the stage last year and they are used to the environment. As a team we haven’t been on the stage before, so we were trying to avoid that first set as much as possible.”

After dropping the first set 25-13, a loud Redbird Arena helped the Pioneers battle back until dropping the second set 25-21.

Senior Libero Amber Juarez said even though the Pioneers lost, she’s excited to join her teammates for the third place game.

“We want to end our season on a win. We are really hoping to take third,” Juarez said.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].