Mustangs finish with flourish to sweep Hornets and advance to Class 1A sectional

MENDON, Ill. — Maybe, just maybe, the Unity volleyball team needed a wake-up call.

The Mustangs, who won the first set against Brown County with relative ease Thursday night, eventually needed a fast-and-furious finish in round two to deliver a knockout punch.

“I think we got a little ahead of ourselves after that first game,” Unity senior middle blocker Kyra Carothers said.

Unity collected eight of the final 11 points in that pivotal second set to earn a 25-21 victory, a verdict that bookended its 25-11 win in the opener and awarded the Mustangs with a second straight Class 1A regional title.

“The second game was what we expected (both to be),” Unity coach Seth Klusmeyer said. “These were two good teams. We knew Brown County would be tough.”

Unity (32-4-1) advances to meet Raymond Lincolnwood at 7 p.m. Monday in the North Greene Sectional semifinal at White Hall. Hardin Calhoun and Springfield Lutheran meet in the other semifinal at 6 p.m.

The sectional championship will be played at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The back-and-forth second set arguably turned on a service ace from junior Laura Cornwell during Unity’s stretch run that closed out Brown County (27-11). Unity trailed 18-17 before putting together its late charge, as the Hornets controlled much of the early part of the second set with strong play from a frontcourt anchored by Katey Flynn, Klare Flynn, Gracie Hedden and Ashlee Markert.

“I could kind of sense the momentum shift at that point,” Cornwell said. “I think (that ace) gave us a shot of energy.”

Carothers, whose 14 kills paced the Mustangs, agreed.

“Cornwell’s ace was a big momentum shifter,” said Carothers, who now has 358 kills for the season.

Outside hitter Kylee Barry, who recorded a team-leading 13 digs, admitted she had a wide range of emotions during the game.

“All I could think about was this was the last match on our home floor, and I knew Brown County would be wanting revenge,” Barry said.

Unity had defeated Brown County 25-14, 25-15 on Sept. 20.

Klusmeyer felt an important key was Unity was controlling the tempo much of the night, particularly in the first game and during those closing 11 points in game two.

“I think we kept Brown County out of its offense and rhythm,” said Klusmeyer, now 450-219-1 at Unity over 19 seasons.

Other key contributors for the Mustangs included Hayden Frankel with 12 assists, boosting her season total to 413, plus Ashlynn Arnsman with eight kills, Caroline Knox with 10 assists and Carothers with eight digs.

Brown County saw a 10-game win streak end with the setback, its first loss since October 8 to Hartsburg-Emden. The Hornets’ senior-laden lineup closed out a three-year run with a 75-19 record that included last season’s 31-4 finish and the school’s first regional championship.