SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk senior Paige Butler didn't need a reminder of what the Warriors volleyball team was playing for in a regional-tournament-like atmosphere Thursday against Pecatonica.
Butler stepped up and delivered some powerful kills to help the Warriors withstand a Vikings' rally to win a thrilling five-game match, 25-15, 25-12, 19-25, 23-25, 15-8, that clinched Black Hawk's third straight Six Rivers East Conference title.
With the win, Black Hawk (16-5-2, 10-0 Six Rivers East) won its 22nd straight conference match over the past two years.
Black Hawk coach Rachel Wolff never felt comfortable down the stretch.
"I think nervous is an understatement," Wolff said. "I think the kids deserve credit for doing what they needed to do and playing their pace of game. They stayed calm and focused."
Pecatonica (11-5, 7-3) stormed back after dropping the first two games. The Vikings forced a decisive fifth game by rallying from an 11-4 deficit in the fourth. Pecatonica senior Brittany Kent, who racked up 15 kills and 20 digs, had back-to-back spike kills and a tip to cut the Warriors' lead to 14-13. The Vikings tied the game at 15 after an ace by Ellie Gifford and took a 17-16 lead on an ace by Kent.
The Vikings again came back from a 20-17 deficit. Pecatonica junior Cassie Swenson's kill after a long volley gave the Vikings a 24-22 lead and all the momentum they needed.
The Warriors were led by Butler, who had 18 kills and seven aces and senior Gabi Lehner had a team-high 22 assists.
"It was really overwhelming," Butler said. "I was a little scared. I was definitely a little nervous. We just had to calm down."
In the fifth game, a spirited Pecatonica crowd began chanting, "Green Machine" as the Vikings jumped out to a 5-2 lead. The Warriors responded when junior Kim Wellnitz went on a six-point run from the service line, which was fueled by several Butler kills to give the Warriors a 9-5 lead they never relinquished.
"Tonight we came in with a big head, I guess," Black Hawk senior libero Maria Meives said. "We came back in crunch time and won.
"Since we are seniors, it feels very good. It's our last year, so it means a lot to us."
Pecatonica co-coach Cher Schliem used Black Hawk as a measuring stick.
"We worked all season long to beat a team like Black Hawk," Schliem said. "We knew it was going to be a battle. We made it tough on ourselves. We dug down and tried to come back and we came up a little short."
Early on, the Warriors were on the verge of sweeping the Vikings. In the first game, Meives scored seven consecutive service points to help the Warriors take a 17-12 lead to seal the game.
Aggressive play at the net by Black Hawk junior Katie Place, Butler and Wellnitz sparked the Warriors as they cruised to a 14-7 lead en route to the victory in the second game.
"I just said, 'We didn't come here to lose,'" Schliem said. "We had our work cut out for us."
The Vikings' fortunes changed in a must-win third game, where Kent led them to an 18-13 lead that they would never surrender. That set the stages for a wild finish.
Pecatonica senior Morgan Pien had 18 assists for the Vikings.
"We still haven't played our best match," Schliem said.
Butler stepped up and delivered some powerful kills to help the Warriors withstand a Vikings' rally to win a thrilling five-game match, 25-15, 25-12, 19-25, 23-25, 15-8, that clinched Black Hawk's third straight Six Rivers East Conference title.
With the win, Black Hawk (16-5-2, 10-0 Six Rivers East) won its 22nd straight conference match over the past two years.
Black Hawk coach Rachel Wolff never felt comfortable down the stretch.
"I think nervous is an understatement," Wolff said. "I think the kids deserve credit for doing what they needed to do and playing their pace of game. They stayed calm and focused."
Pecatonica (11-5, 7-3) stormed back after dropping the first two games. The Vikings forced a decisive fifth game by rallying from an 11-4 deficit in the fourth. Pecatonica senior Brittany Kent, who racked up 15 kills and 20 digs, had back-to-back spike kills and a tip to cut the Warriors' lead to 14-13. The Vikings tied the game at 15 after an ace by Ellie Gifford and took a 17-16 lead on an ace by Kent.
The Vikings again came back from a 20-17 deficit. Pecatonica junior Cassie Swenson's kill after a long volley gave the Vikings a 24-22 lead and all the momentum they needed.
The Warriors were led by Butler, who had 18 kills and seven aces and senior Gabi Lehner had a team-high 22 assists.
"It was really overwhelming," Butler said. "I was a little scared. I was definitely a little nervous. We just had to calm down."
In the fifth game, a spirited Pecatonica crowd began chanting, "Green Machine" as the Vikings jumped out to a 5-2 lead. The Warriors responded when junior Kim Wellnitz went on a six-point run from the service line, which was fueled by several Butler kills to give the Warriors a 9-5 lead they never relinquished.
"Tonight we came in with a big head, I guess," Black Hawk senior libero Maria Meives said. "We came back in crunch time and won.
"Since we are seniors, it feels very good. It's our last year, so it means a lot to us."
Pecatonica co-coach Cher Schliem used Black Hawk as a measuring stick.
"We worked all season long to beat a team like Black Hawk," Schliem said. "We knew it was going to be a battle. We made it tough on ourselves. We dug down and tried to come back and we came up a little short."
Early on, the Warriors were on the verge of sweeping the Vikings. In the first game, Meives scored seven consecutive service points to help the Warriors take a 17-12 lead to seal the game.
Aggressive play at the net by Black Hawk junior Katie Place, Butler and Wellnitz sparked the Warriors as they cruised to a 14-7 lead en route to the victory in the second game.
"I just said, 'We didn't come here to lose,'" Schliem said. "We had our work cut out for us."
The Vikings' fortunes changed in a must-win third game, where Kent led them to an 18-13 lead that they would never surrender. That set the stages for a wild finish.
Pecatonica senior Morgan Pien had 18 assists for the Vikings.
"We still haven't played our best match," Schliem said.
