Stortzum, Bombers serve up backbreaking run to start second set in sweep of Suns

MACOMB, Ill. — Macomb volleyball coach Briana Rexroat didn’t know why, but she had a vision leading up to the Bombers’ heavyweight clash with Southeastern on Wednesday.

“For some reason, all day I was envisioning 25-12,” Rexroat said. “I just kept seeing those two numbers.”

Nostradamus would have been proud.

Rexroat’s vision came true in the second set as the Bombers handled the Suns 25-20, 25-12 at Macomb High School.

“I thought I was reaching, but I’ll take it,” Rexroat said. “We needed that one.”

Macomb jumped out to a 13-3 advantage in the second set thanks in part to junior defensive specialist Kate Stortzum’s serving.

The net was rather kind, too.

With the Bombers leading 9-3, Stortzum’s serve hit the tape and rolled over the net for an ace. Southeastern’s Amanda Stephens dove and got a touch on the ball, but it fell harmlessly to the floor.

Three points later, it was rinse and repeat. Stortzum’s serve hit a near-identical spot on the net and dropped to the hardwood, this time untouched.

“A little part of me was praying that they would go over,” Stortzum said. “I was very happy because when we miss serves, it’s really sad. It’s like free points, like you’re just giving the other team a point. When they were on the verge of going over, I was like, ‘Please go over.’”

Bombers senior outside hitter Kathryn Lukkarinen was just as nervous — if not more — as those serves caught substantial pieces of the net.

“They gave me a little bit of a heart attack, not going to lie,” Lukkarinen said. “I got a little scared they wouldn’t go over, but once they did, I was jumping up and down and just super excited.”

Stortzum left less doubt on her final two serves, both of which were aces. Stortzum dropped one in the pocket to get the Bombers to match point then directed the match-winning serve at Savannah Ramsey in the back row. Ramsey couldn’t get off a clean pass, giving Stortzum four aces in the set and five for the match.

“I was just so proud of our team in general. It was the last play of the game, but our team played so well that whole set,” Stortzum said. “I was happy for that serve, but I was just happy we played that controlled and that calmly the whole time.”

When Southeastern did return Macomb’s serves, Rexroat said the Bombers’ first touch was exceptional more times than not especially in the second set, which allowed setter Quinn Rexroat to feed the hitters.

“That first touch is what makes or breaks you,” Briana Rexroat said. “I felt like in that second set our first touch went from the 10-foot line to straight on target to Quinn, and when that happens, Quinn can just shoot it wherever she wants. It keeps the other team’s defense guessing on where she’s going, so kudos to our defense. They just get that ball up.”

Lukkarinen, who had nine kills, said the groove the Bombers found allowed her and other hitters like senior Jacque Adair, who led Macomb with 10 kills, to swing freely.

“I was just thinking, ‘Kill it, hit that ball,’” Lukkarinen said. “That’s the mentality you’ve got to have, that predator mentality. Go out there, don’t wait for them to make an error, do your job.”

The first set was much more nip and tuck. It was tied on eight different occasions, the latest of which came at 15 before Macomb went on a 4-0 run, the longest stretch of consecutive points by either team in the set. Amanda Stephens blocked Kelly Ladd to cut the Suns’ deficit to 23-20, but on the following point, Lukkarinen punished a ball down the line to get the Bombers to set point. The Suns couldn’t return Lukkarinen’s ensuing serve, giving the first set to Macomb.

Southeastern coach Tim Kerr applauded his team for staying competitive in the first set, but he said too many unforced errors left the Suns wondering what could have been.

“We were right there, then we’d give them something easy. We were right there, then we’d give them something easy. We were right there, then we’d give a point away, then we were back again, then we’d give a point away,” Kerr said. “We hit some balls well and were able to run some offense. Those were the times when we passed well. That’s the thing. They had so many more opportunities to swing than we did, and that was the deal.”

Macomb (19-0) will hit the road to take on Monmouth United on Thursday, while the Suns (17-2) will have four days off before returning to West Central Conference play at Rushville-Industry on Oct. 7. Southeastern will battle Quincy Notre Dame (24-2, 6-0 WCC) on Oct. 8, the day before the Raiders welcome Macomb to The Pit.

“In my opinion, when you look at our region, you look at us three (Southeastern, Macomb and QND) being the three best teams in the area,” Kerr said. “Tonight was a big game for our area. Good for (Macomb) for winning. We just have to be the little 1A school that tries to regroup and make a good postseason run.”