El Paso-Gridley volleyball made necessary adjustments for state berth

NORMAL — The El Paso-Gridley High School volleyball team won its Oct. 15 match with Delavan in three sets.

Yet the Titans did not feel like winners.

"Senior Night was our turning point, when we had to regroup and discuss what we needed to change to reach our goal of state," EPG coach Andrea Hardwick said. "We moved some positions around and hitters embraced their roles."

EPG has won 9 of 10 matches since and carries a 31-7 record into the Class 2A State Tournament. The Titans face defending champion Breese Mater Dei at 1:30 p.m. Friday at CEFCU Arena in the state semifinals.

For EPG, a state tournament trip was delayed but not denied.

"The cool thing about this team going to state is that my current seniors made it to state in 7th grade and then COVID canceled state," said Hardwick. "They made it again in 8th grade, but again COVID and no state. Now as seniors, they finally get to go to state."

Hardwick, who won a Class 1A state championship as coach at Heyworth in 2010, believes her team's strength is athleticism.

"I doubt you would find a faster team," Hardwick said. "We have a team full of multi-sport athletes led by a setter, Taylor Langland, that can get to any pass and put up a set that makes it look effortless. I would say our offense is what we are best at and what really makes the team fun to watch."

Langland has distributed 864 assists and has 194 digs.

Aubrey Phillips is the EPG kills leader with 330, Reese Deckard has 219 and Jaida Reed 173 to go with a team-best 36 blocks.

Addi Hale has served 38 aces and Langland 34. Hale tops the team in digs with 437, Deckard has 215 and Langland 194.

Hardwick and her players prepared to assemble a banner season.

"Expectations were high," said the EPG coach. "Starting last year and moving into the summer, we knew we had the talent and the pressure of this being 'the season' was always there."

Mater Dei has a 36-3 record and is led by 6-foot Truman State recruit Ella Diercks with 264 kills. Alyssa Koerkenmeier, a 6-5 first team 2A All-Stater who will play basketball at Saint Louis, has 228 kills and 78 blocks.

EPG does not have a player taller than 5-10.