Earlier this week, Hickman’s 3-6-1 volleyball team hosted the 5-0 Pirates from Hannibal. The Pirates brought a good game to Columbia, bringing the game to five sets, but it didn’t look like it would be that way early on.

In the first set, Hannibal got out to a lead of five after an ace which caused Hickman to call a timeout, behind 6-1. Throughout the rest of the first set, Hickman kept Hannibal’s lead small, getting their first kill of the night from Caroline Eastman (12), to go down 8-2. Unfortunately for Hickman, they would lose the first set, after a serve into the net by libero, Alyssa Trachsel (12)

Starting off the second set, Hickman got off to a better start after an ace from Abby Duncan (11). The goo

d start would not continue, though. Hannibal would once again jump out to a lead, holding a lead of 12-5. Hickman would go on to score nine more points in the set, but Hannibal won the set 25-14.

In the third set, the script was completely flipped; what looked like a cut-and-paste win for Hannibal, turned into a back-and-forth battle. 

In the opening points of the set, Hickman was tied with Hannibal, 5-5. Hickman then went on a great run, scoring five unanswered points, while Trachsel was serving. The run would end after a net violation, and then Hannibal had a run of their own until it was tied again at 12. 

The back and forth would not stop. After two back-to-back blocks from Sadie Warzinik (10) and Caroline, Hickman would score a couple more points up until the score was 17-13 Hickman, and Hannibal took a timeout of their own. 

With Hickman five points away from winning the set, Hannibal tied the game back up at 20. They exchanged points back and forth until it was once again tied at 24. Staring straight at another loss, Hickman stayed alive, winning the third set, 26-24. 

The theme of this set carried over to the fourth, as the teams went back and forth once again. The game was tied at 6, and then Hannibal took the lead 13-11. Hickman took the lead back, winning 16-14 causing Hannibal to call timeout. Out of the timeout, Hickman kept their lead, eventually winning the penultimate set, 25-19 after another block by Sadie. 

In the final set, the tensions and excitement were at an all-time high. In the opening stages of the fifth, the game was again tied at 5-5. Hannibal then took the lead again, at 7-5, and subsequently 12-9. Hickman once again came back, but unfortunately, after a controversial call by the referee, Hickman lost 16-14. 

The Kewpies are back in action tonight as they host the Southern Boone Eagles, which should make for a great game.