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BGM moves to 2-0 in SICL play
Bears have shown ability to win close sets to start season
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
BROOKLYN — Last season did not go as planned for the BGM volleyball team; they finished 6-16.
But the Bears did not hang their heads on the disappointing season, they used it as fuel, and that has been evident at the start of this season.
“We knew that something needed to change, and we worked for it,” Mya Beck said. “Having that experience pushed us harder,” Emerysn Minnaert added.
BGM moved to 4-0 on the season after a 3-1 win over Colfax-Mingo Tuesday by set scores of 25-22, 25-21, 23-25 and 25-15.
One thing sticks out in the Bears start to the season — their ability to win tightly-contested sets. Counting Tuesday’s results, the team is 8-1 in sets decided by four points or less.
Winning close sets consistently isn’t a fluke, it’s a skill.
“I think for us we’re all so close,” Minnaert said. “We all talk and trust each other on the court.”
Trust is key on the court when sets get tight, and there were many of those moments Tuesday against the Tigerhawks.
“Trust is a big thing and with playing together for so long, we play together as one whole,” Beck said. “That’s where we get our energy from.”
In the first three sets Tuesday, the lead rarely expanded past three points.
Set one was tied at 17, when Beck delivered a kill that gave the Bears the lead for good.
The Bears led 15-11 in set two before the Tigerhawks scored six straight to take the lead, taking advantage of some Bears’ miscues.
‘When it’s going not how we want it too, we all just come together and take a collective deep breath,“ Minnaert said on the team’s composure.
At 18-16, BGM responded with kills on their next four points. Two came from Beck, one from Macey Heishman and one from Ana Coleman.
The Bears closed the set scoring the last three points.
Set three was back-and-forth.
At 23-22, Colfax-Mingo delivered kills from Britney Keeney and Grace Hunsberger to take the lead late and capture the set 25-23.
Set four saw the largest lead of the match. BGM led 9-2 to start.
The Tigerhawks responded and took the lead 12-10, but the Bears would not be denied, finishing the set on a 15-3 run.
Beck and Minnaert were the leading attackers for the Bears and have been all season.
They both feel more confident in their sophomore seasons.
“Us being freshmen [last season] and getting that experience with the same people just helped us settle in,” Minnaert said.
“I felt ready because I already have that experience,” Beck said. “Practicing all year-round really helped me grow as an athlete.”
The Bears are now 4-0, 2-0 in South Iowa Cedar League play.
Even against the Tigerhawks’ size advantage, the Bears prevailed Tuesday.
“We know we can compete with any team in this conference,” Minnaert said.
