Ally Stevenson, the only underclassman last season for Geneva, felt this fall would be different.
The junior setter had to grow up in a hurry for the Vikings, helping to bring along a whole new varsity team while at the same time playing one of the most important positions on the court.
“Having all seniors last year and being the only underclassman was very overwhelming,” Stevenson said. “But I knew this year, I really needed to take charge on the court and help everyone learn the varsity game.”
It was very appropriate then that Stevenson was the one at the service line at the end of Geneva’s most stirring comeback this year in their final regular-season match.
Stevenson set Emma Peterson for a back-row kill to finish off a 25-22, 28-26 DuKane Conference win over St. Charles East. The Vikings trailed 22-12 in the second game before a stunning rally.
In addition to her setting, Stevenson served two aces for Geneva (19-16, 5-2). Peterson added 11 kills and four aces. Zori Malone had eight kills and two aces. Kai Davenport tallied seven kills.
Kaylee McInnis paced St. Charles East (13-20, 3-4) with eight kills and two aces. Scarlett Dickerson followed with five kills and Francesca Fevold added four.
Surrounded by essentially brand-new teammates, Stevenson needed to get to know the roster and how to effectively run the offense. Things have really come together in the season’s second half.
The Vikings are 12-3 in their last 15 matches heading into Tuesday’s 6 p.m. Class 3A postseason opener in the Chicago University Regional.
“In summer league, that started nicely,” Stevenson said. “But over the season, we’ve really progressed. Hitting and passing, all of it came together nicely.
“I was definitely nervous, but the girls were open and willing to learn, so that made it easier.”
Interim Geneva coach Kris Hasty knows that with such an inexperienced team, having a setter like Stevenson is a huge asset.
“She spreads it around well, which is nice,” Hasty said. “We have more than one weapon. She’s our most athletic kid on the team. She does a lot of good things. She hustles 100% of the time.”
One thing that has developed is Stevenson’s ability to set Peterson in the back row. The Vikings notched four kills from the back row Tuesday, two of which came from Peterson.
“We’ve been working a lot on back-row attacks and different attacks in general in the front row too, like going faster and using the middles,” Stevenson said. “Being more aggressive is going to prepare us for state.”
St. Charles East held a 15-11 lead in the second game when it looked like the Saints were going to run away and force a third game. A 7-1 run burst put them on the brink.
“It doesn’t feel good to lose, but at the same time, we have to learn from it and move on to the next day,” St. Charles East coach Lynnette Summins said. “Our block did a nice job of getting touches.
“Our defense made some good plays. We just didn’t make enough.”
Three straight kills from Peterson gave the Vikings hope. Facing a 24-17 deficit, Geneva got three kills from Davenport and two aces from Peterson to force a 24-24 tie.
The improbable comeback was completed on a kill from Malone, followed by an ace from Stevenson and the back-row kill from Peterson.
“It wasn’t our best match,” Hasty said. “But to be able to come back from down 22-12 is crazy.”
The focus now, though, shifts to the postseason. And the Vikings are flying high.
“We are very excited,” Stevenson said. “We’re not predicting anything, but we are very confident that we will go pretty far.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.