With things in hand on Senior Night, you had a feeling the Helias volleyball team would start substituting soon. But the way it played out caught the fans, and one player in particular, by surprise.
The Lady Crusaders were in control Monday against the Hermann Lady Bearcats, and head coach David Harris substituted first for setter Ashley Dudenhoeffer, one of Helias' seven seniors.
The move drew a smattering of applause, with the fans finally realizing what had happened when Dudenhoeffer, named an All-American last season by PrepVolleyball.com, had taken a seat on the bench.
The fans shouldn't worry, because it took her a moment to get it as well.
"It was a little tough going out, then I understood what Dave was doing - he was symbolically showing the next generation carrying things on," she said. "Once I got that, I was like, "That is so cool.'"
Last year's team, which won a state championship and went 43-0-1, started things by going undefeated at Rackers Fieldhouse. This year's team also checked that box on the checklist, as Monday's 25-16, 25-9 win was the last home match of the season.
"We do want to do as best we can, but we don't compare ourselves to last year," senior defensive specialist Maddie Dunkmann said. "We know we're a completely different team. We just wanted to do the best we could and there really wasn't any pressure (to go undefeated at home)."
Things went surprisingly easy against a talented Hermann team ranked in the Top 10 in Class 2. Helias trailed only twice, both within the first five points of the second set, and rolled to the victory.
"I was actually kind of worried about tonight," Harris said. "Hermann is always well-coached, Linda (Lampkin) is probably the best coach that's ever coached in Missouri. They're always well-prepared, they always play hard, they always serve tough. So it was a good win."
Helias never trailed in the opening set, jumping out to a 12-6 lead. Hermann eventually clawed back to within 16-13, but Helias ran off four straight points to regain control, with Dudenhoeffer getting two assists and two kills in that span.
It was part of a big night for her, as she ended up with a match-high 23 assists to go with four kills and four service points. She said it was difficult getting ready to play her final match at Rackers Fieldhouse.
"It was hard, because this is my home," she said. "I've been here for a long time and made a lot of memories here. I've excelled here because of these wonderful people. But I know it's in good hands - I've seen the upcoming talent here and it's amazing. They will carry on our tradition and I trust them to do that."
Helias trailed 1-0 and 3-2 to start the second set, but the Lady Crusaders never trailed after a kill and a block by freshman Ellie Rockers put Helias up 4-3. A kill by Suzie Kuensting and a block by Hannah Eynard, both seniors, put the Lady Crusaders firmly in control.
Helias ended the match on a 23-6 run and did something that rarely happens - holding Hermann to just 25 points for a match.
"I was very surprised by that, because they've been playing well," Harris said.
Kuensting led a balanced effort with six kills, Eynard paced the Lady Crusaders with three blocks and fellow senior Blake Berhorst led the team with 10 digs.
The other seniors honored Monday were Megan Brown and Clarissa Fennessey.
"For our young kids that have never played varsity volleyball, or varsity anything, before, it was a good experience for them," Harris said. "The seniors are just wonderful young ladies and they're great examples for the underclassmen."
The win was a good comeback for Helias (22-3) after dropping a pair of tough games last weekend. The Lady Crusaders lost to Francis Howell on Friday before falling Saturday to Lutheran South in the championship game of the Lutheran South Tournament.
"We learned a lot of things - we improved as the weekend went along," Harris said. "... We got behind against both and came back against both. We ended up losing, but we keep fighting until the very end. Then the girls came out focused (Monday), so I was very pleased about that."
Helias returns to action Saturday at the Festus Invitational.
In Monday's JV match, Helias posted a 27-25, 28-26 win.
Amie Henson had seven service points, including two aces, and nine assists for the Lady Crusaders (25-3-2). Callie Henson had nine kills, Madeline McDaniel had three blocks, Elisabeth Mealy had 16 digs and Bradi Berhorst had 11 digs.
Helias won the freshman match 25-15, 25-11.
Grace Millard had four kills and four block for the Lady Crusaders (23-0), Olivia Farrow had four aces and nine digs and Krystal Brauner had 13 service points.
III
On Friday in St. Charles, the Helias varsity dropped a 25-21, 25-19 decision to Francis Howell.
The Lady Crusaders then went 4-1 on Saturday in the Lutheran South Tournament.
The Lady Crusaders won their pool at the event by beating John Burroughs (25-15, 25-15) and Rockwood-Summit (25-14, 25-21).
Helias then defeated Sullivan in the quarterfinals (25-10, 25-6) and Rockwood-Summit in the semifinals (25-22, 25-11).
Lutheran South then took the championship match by a 25-20, 25-19 score.
For the tournament, Dudenhoeffer racked up 44 assists, 27 digs and 24 service points, while Kuensting had 16 kills, 18 service points and nine blocks.
Also for Helias, Brown had 23 digs and 23 service points, Hannah Borchelt had 24 kills, Eynard had 22 kills, Rockers had 19 kills, Blake Berhorst had 64 digs and Dunkmann had 21 service points.