Kinsella falls, CPU does too

CENTER POINT – The silence was palpable as Center Point-Urbana senior and team leader Cheyenne Kinsella crumpled to the gym floor on a block attempt early in the first game against Independence with an apparent knee injury. 

Kinsella's absence, coupled with a determined group of Independence Mustangs, proved too much for Class 3A No. 9 Center Point-Urbana as it fell to No. 14 Independence, 21-25, 25-14, 25-23, 25-16, in a Wamac West Division prep volleyball match Tuesday night at Center Point. 

'Well, we battled. It's a great group of girls, we're very tight, and they're learning to believe in themselves,' Independence Coach Joe Schmitz said. 'It was a great win. I feel really bad for Center Point because they lost the Kinsella girl. She's a great player.' 

Based on preliminary reports from the school's athletic trainer, CPU Coach Cathy Husmann does not believe Kinsella's season or career is in jeopardy. 

'Cheyenne's the spark plug of the team,' an emotional Husmann said. 'It's a huge loss with Cheyenne. There's a lot of chemistry that's lost with that, too.' 

CPU (19-6) leaned on its seniors to capture the first game with a 16-6 closing run, but were overmatched the remainder of the night, losing three straight games. 

'I think their heads kind of fell out of it in the second game, when the reality set in,' Husmann said. 'This is not the end of our season.' 

The win continues a landmark season for Independence (17-4), something its squad is mindful of, but by no means content with. 

'We just keep working hard, and every day we go to practice and focus,' said senior Karlie Niedert, who led the Mustangs with three pivotal blocks. 'We don't let our win on Tuesday affect how we do on Thursday.' 

Niedert's younger sister Kaitlin led the Mustangs with 11 kills, while junior Alyssa Hawkins tallied 35 assists.