C.R. Prairie again settles for ‘almost’ in regional final

CEDAR RAPIDS - 'Almost” is very rarely fun - especially when it's postseason time.

On the doorstep of a state volleyball tournament berth, 'almost” is the last thing a team that's worked for nearly four months (and many more weeks of the off-season) reach wants to hear. But even in the 'almost” of Cedar Rapids Prairie's 3-1 Class 5A regional final loss to Dubuque Hempstead, there was some solace in the form of another learning experience.

Yes, the Hawks were built around eight seniors, but seven more got an education - albeit a tough one.

'Part of it is playing in a bigger arena. We'd done a really good job of that this season - played some really good teams,” said Prairie Coach Lynnette Stecklein. 'We've had some experience with it, but certainly the more experience you have with it, the more relaxed you can play with it. I'm sure walking away, they're going to think about ‘How did I prepare for this? Where was I at mentally?'

'But this only makes them better, having played in this. The underclassmen really wanted this for the seniors and what they've done, so that's hard. But any time you're here, there's lots of things you'll take away from it.”

Prairie entered its second straight regional final (losing to Iowa City High last season) with eyes on its first state tournament berth since 2008. But in facing Hempstead for the fourth time this season, the two opponents' familiarity meant executing a particular game plan was as vital as ever.

Hempstead advanced to state thanks to the four-set victory, 25-18, 19-25, 25-22, 25-22. The Mustangs worked hard to keep the ball away from the Hawks' kills leader, Kate Busswitz, and succeeded in that goal for much of the match.

Prairie was forced out of system and into a pace it didn't like, and couldn't grab control of the match as a result.

'I think when we came in transition, we maybe weren't as sharp in our quick-tempo offense,” Stecklein said. 'We played them earlier in the MVC (conference tournament), our tempo was on and they couldn't stop it. Tonight our tempo offense was off a little bit. I really feel like that was a little bit of the difference. We knew it'd be close matches, down to the wire. When you're in those battles, too, you have to have a break here or there.”

The breaks didn't come - at least not in a timely enough fashion. Several long rallies dotted all four sets, and took things out of both sides physically and mentally. Losing the last few long points ultimately served as the final blow that knocked Prairie out of the postseason

On the flip side, Hempstead reaches state for the 11th time in the last 16 seasons, and did so by executing what Coach Travis Wills put in place before the match. Succeeding where they might not have at other points earlier this season proved to be the difference for the Mustangs.

'We haven't always played our best - we're a confidence-driven team. I'm so proud of them for this,” Wills said. 'Even where (Busswitz is) at when we're serving determines what we do. If she's on the left, we serve to the right. We wanted to make them make the pass all the way across the court to get her the ball. You know she's the best middle in the state. She just is.

'The goal is to try and slow everyone down. We ate up their outsides. Obviously really happy.”

Ultimately Prairie had to settle for 'almost.”

But in the embraces and tears that followed the loss, Stecklein, her staff and her players were able to thank the group that led them to where they are and have been the last two seasons.

'This group of seniors has been phenomenal for us,” Stecklein said. 'They were tremendous leaders for us. We got together early, set our goals and set our motto and they modeled that. They're the ones that brought the young ones in. We're really going to miss them.”

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