Trico’s best volleyball postseason run since 2002 ended Tuesday night in the Lebanon Sectional semifinals with a 25-19, 25-22 loss to Bunker Hill.
In two closely fought sets, Bunker Hill behind their 6-foot-1 NCAA Division I prospect Brooklyn Hlafka rallied off enough points at the ends of the sets for the match victory.
“We fumbled a little out there trying to change game plans during the match,” said Trico coach Kassidy Phoenix. “We didn’t know what Bunker Hill was like until we saw them tonight. Despite the loss, the girls played really well and I am extremely pleased with their performance.”
In set one, the game was tied at 4-4 before Bunker Hill went on an 8-3 scoring run to lead 12-7.
After two kills and an ace by Kaitlyn Phoenix along with kills from Amie Conway and Mikayla Reid and an ace and a roof block by Beth Daniels, the Lady Pioneers trailed just 19-18.
However, that would be as close as Trico would get in set one as Bunker Hill finished with a 6-1 scoring run for the 25-19 win.
In set two, trailing 6-4, Trico went on a 7-0 scoring run after three kills from Daniels and a kill from Jennifer McGill for an 11-6 lead. The Lady Pioneers would hang onto their five point lead as Daniels and Phoenix each added two more kills as their team’s advantage was 17-12.
However, like the first set, Bunker Hill finished with a flurry, outscoring Trico 13-5 the rest of the way for a slim 25-22 victory.
Hlafka finished with 11 kills and six blocks to pace the Minutemaids who improved to 30-6 on the year.
Daniels led the Lady Pioneers with 10 kills and 19 digs.
“We are proud of what we accomplished this season, and our future looks bright as well,” added Phoenix. “We are only losing two seniors, and we have a lot of talented underclassmen. The prospect for next year looks good as well.”
Bunker Hill advances to the 1A Lebanon Sectional final where they will face Patoka Thursday night. Patoka knocked off Valmeyer  25-10, 25-17.