Advance pulls away in Class 2 quarterfinals against SV

Advance volleyball head coach Erin Hoffman wore one of her state championship rings while patrolling the sideline Thursday during the Class 1 sectional game.
It was a move that St. Vincent coach Darren Verseman noted was a “major flex” as the Hornets and Indians clashed for the second straight season for a chance to go to the Class 1 quarterfinals.
Much like last season, the Indians fell in straight sets 20-25, 14-25, 15-25 as the Hornets showed championship mettle at St. Vincent High School, effectively ending their season.
“We knew we were going to have to do special things tonight to have a chance,” Verseman said. “We were going to have to be aggressive in how we served to make them move and put them in uncomfortable positions. The girls did everything I asked and I couldn’t be anymore proud.”
Macy Lukefahr led the Indians with eight kills, while Kamille Graham added seven and Emersyn Pitts chipped in six. Defensively, Allison Bierk had 18 digs while Graham and Addie Dobbelare added 10 apiece.
Every time the Indians made a move, the Hornets were right there to counter with a run of their own. The first set featured many mini 3-0 and 4-0 runs by each team before Advance climbed ahead 21-19 and finished the set on a 4-1 run to end the set.
Advance used a 9-2 run in the second to distance themselves, including winning a pair of long rallies to dampen any St. Vincent comeback. Verseman used his timeouts early in sets to stem any momentum, but to no avail.

“With Advance, if they get ahead by three points, you start to get worried that they will start to run away with it,” he said. “Then they turn it to a six-point lead or whatever the case may be. That’s championship stuff. Coach Hoffman has been here many times before.”
St. Vincent started the third set with a 6-2 lead, but Advance battled back to 6-6, and again to 10-10, before seizing control.
St. Vincent ended the season with a 12-18-1 record, one that saw them get hot at the right moment during the Class 1, District 4 tournament. Verseman noted he would classify the year as successful, despite the modest record.
The girls did their thing and what they needed to do to win games. We definitely improved,” Verseman said. “I could have done some things better as a coach, but the girls started to make the plays they needed to make at the end of the year.”
St. Vincent will graduate four seniors in Lukefahr, Graham, Carleigh Grim, and Allie Strattman. Verseman noted the seniors were part of the last two district tournament championship squads and will be missed.
“There were tears and hugs after the game,” Verseman said. “The loss of the seniors will leave an opening that will need to be filled, but it won’t be easy. The girls meant a lot to the program the previous two years I’ve been here..”