Fatima (26-9) had a solid volleyball season, but it came to an end on Saturday in the Class 2 quarterfinals with a 20-25, 16-25, 26-25, 20-25 loss to Hermann.

“I am so incredibly proud of the season we have had,” said Coach Ellie Crede. “Looking back at the last couple of seasons, record and stat-wise, we have made so much progress in such a short amount of time this season. I made lots of changes and put girls in positions they have never had experience in, and they excelled.”

After leading early in the first set, the Lady Comets slowly saw the lead slip away. In the second set, Fatima seemed to stall but surged in the third set to force a fourth. In the final game, Fatima and Hermann traded points, with the set tied most of the way until the Lady Bearcats went on a run, steadily increasing the lead until the final ball hit the floor.

Crede is pleased to have had the opportunity to succeed. “To make it all the way to quarterfinals this season is more than I could’ve ever asked for,” she said. “I’m very proud of this group, and so thankful for our seniors, and the time and dedication they put into our program over the last four years.”

Stats: aces: Addison Lehmen, Leah Muenks, Lily Kempker (1 each); kills: Alayna Backes (24), Gracie Dickneite (9), Lehmen (6), Kempker (4), Elizabeth Voss (2); blocks: Backes (4), Voss (2), Addisyn Nilges, Kempker (1 apiece); digs: Kempker (18), Kaylee Berhorst (16), Backes (15), Muenks (5), Annabelle Horton (4), Nilges (1); assists: Kempker (35).

On Thursday, the Lady Comets defeated Licking in straight sets, 25-19, 25-16, 25-18.

“When they gel and work together as a team, we’re unstoppable,” said Crede. “Our confidence is through the roof. Everybody knows their job, and we’re cognitively playing the game.”

Crede added that Backes’ leadership has been stellar. “Alayna is a fantastic asset to our team,” she said. “I mean, she’s running the court, whether she’s in the front row or the back row, she reads the ball incredibly well. She is very smart about her play and thinks before she contacts the ball.”

Kempker does a fantastic job of being an offensive option. “When she’s front row, setting the ball, Lily is aware that she also is an offensive option,” said Crede. “She can also kill the ball and has made so much improvement this season as that offensive option. Rather than your typical dump, she’s tricking the other team with tips over the net. She keeps her body neutral so the other team isn’t reading her very well. Even our players were tricked a few times tonight when they thought she was going to set them. She did a fantastic job.”

Horton had dealt with illness leading into the postseason, but played well. “Coming back from that, she is doing a fantastic job,” said Crede. “Annabelle was not always a DS. She actually came to us as a right-side hitter and has been doing a fantastic job of transitioning into that defensive role. That’s what we needed, her running the back line. Annabelle is our silent leader out there. She sees the ball and knows what to do with it. I’ve changed up Addisyn’s approach this season, and she is starting to get it down pat and doing a fantastic job. Rather than running in her traditional approach, we’re working on a slide approach. It’s a little bit harder to block that slide, and she’s doing a great job of changing up that angle. She has done a tremendous job with that.”

Crede praised all her players for their efforts. “They’ve all stepped up at various times,” she said. “They all played their roles well.”

Stats: aces: Backes (3), Muenks, Kempker, Horton, Berhorst (1 each); kills: Backes (14), Dickneite (11), Lehmen (5), Kempker (4), Voss (3), Nilges, Abby Rogers (2 apiece); blocks: Backes (3), Nilges (2), Lehmen, Rogers (1 each); digs: Kempker (14), Berhorst (10), Muenks (8), Horton (6), Backes (5), Lehmen (2); assists: Kempker (28), Berhorst (5), Backes (3).