Sweep of Alleman on Senior Night continues to show revitalization of QHS volleyball program

QUINCY — The end is near.

Of the regular season, that is. 

And the Quincy High School volleyball team feels it is in a good place as the stretch run beckons.

The Blue Devils dispatched Rock Island Alleman in straight sets on Thursday night, raising their overall record to 22-10 and Western Big 6 Conference mark to 10-3. Quincy’s 25-15, 25-16 victory was never in any sort of serious doubt.

“We’re definitely getting ready for the postseason,” said senior libero Abby Bunch, whose three aces led a systematic Blue Devils attack that applied constant pressure during the 45-minute match. “I think our energy and overall team play were the differences.”

Bunch, who has more than 500 career digs, was one of five QHS players honored on an emotional Senior Night.

“I think we were all reflecting tonight on our four years and how the program has progressed,” Bunch said. “It was both a sad night and a (rewarding) one.”

This year’s senior group has helped rebuild Quincy into one of the premier WB6 programs, As freshmen, they were part of an 8-26 club, a record that has steadily improved during their four-year careers. They were 18-18 as sophomores, then 21-14 as juniors.

QHS coach Kate Brown feels more is being built than victory totals.

“We’re now building a culture,” said Brown, who began the construction project with this year’s seniors when they were freshmen. 

Barring any upsets between now and the end of the regular season next week, the Blue Devils will likely finish third in the WB6. Moline (13-10, 11-1 WB6) and Geneseo (20-6, 11-2 WB6) are the top two teams in the conference standings.

If Quincy can defeat United Township, which is in last place in the WB6, it will finish with 11 conference wins. That total would represent the most WB6 wins in the past four seasons. An 11-3 league record would also give QHS a composite 28-14 record in the WB6 over the past three years after struggling to a 4-10 finish during Brown and the current seniors’ first varsity season together.

Quincy plays at UT on Tuesday, one day after hosting crosstown rival Quincy Notre Dame at Blue Devil Gym. The QHS-QND meeting will be the schools’ second of the season. Notre Dame (27-2) swept QHS in the title match of the QHS Early Bird Invitational on Aug. 31.

Brown said she wants her players to focus on next week’s two matches and not get caught looking ahead to the Class 4A regional in Collinsville, where QHS is the No. 3 seed behind Edwardsville and O’Fallon. She said her club’s goals never change despite the calendar.

“The only kind of goals we have had have been to bring the energy, communicate, have fun and develop team unity,” Brown said. “I think that unity has been a major accomplishment driving this season.”

Bunch agrees.

“I think the friendships we have built, and the energy, have been important keys for us this year,” said Bunch, who was singled out in a pre-match ceremony honoring the senior players, was singled out for her liking to combine her favorite foods -— macaroni and cheese, plus apple sauce -— into one dish.

Other seniors acknowledged were Ayanna Douglas, Lydia Peters, Elise Damon and Kaley Summers. Summers is sidelined for the remainder of the season following leg surgery. 

Summers played an integral part of the Blue Devils’ front line prior to her injury about a month ago. She ended her career with 528 kills and 605 digs.

Bunch said it has taken a while for the QHS players to fully adjust to Summers’ absence.

“But now we have a lot of different players stepping up,” Bunch said.

Brown said it was a “slow transition” getting accustomed to life without Summers, but feels the Blue Devils have been able to compensate.

“We’ve had a lot of girls coming through,” she said.

In the win over Alleman, Douglas contributed six digs, junior Alyssa Farlow six kills and Damon seven assists. Brown felt the setting of Madison Loos and Edie Campbell’s blocking were also important in the victory.