MERRILLVILLE | Andrean volleyball coach Julie Wiejak told her team after dropping the second game that they needed to remember that the volleyball season wasn't over.
After the finality of senior night and the junior varsity heading into its last week of games, Wiejak said she's seen a mental lapse from her team over the last two seasons.
The 59ers hope to learn from the mistakes of a four-game 25-20, 24-26, 25-23, 25-21 win over Hobart in Northwest Crossroads Conference action Thursday.
"I told the kids that second game was behavior unbecoming of our team," Wiejak said. "It took a lot of effort to keep our girls in the game."
Hobart started the match by moving its setter to libero and bringing up junior varsity setter Laurie Vasquez. The difference was almost immediate as Vasquez, who could only play the first three games, amassed 25 assists.
"I'm not going to complain," Hobart coach Kristi Hoese said. "We made a huge change and it turned out to be a great change for us."
Hoese has been trying to find a way all season to prove to her team that the name on the front of an opponents' jersey doesn't guarantee a win.
With a late rally in the second game it seemed like the speech finally worked.
Sophomore Zoe Wilson made kills to notch three of the Brickies' final four points of game two. Outside hitters Grayce Roach and Caylie Pruitt wouldn't let Andrean take a bit lead, putting away kills to halt Andrean rallies at 20-16 in the second game and take a 14-13 lead in the third game.
When a three-point Andrean lead was erased in game three, the 59ers relied on miscues by the Brickies to take a 2-1 advantage.
In the fourth game, the Niners guaranteed the season sweep of the scrappy Brickies.
"I think they remembered how easy the first game was against them and wondered why they just wouldn't let us win," Wiejak said. "We're going to learn from the missed opportunities, because every time we step on the court is a chance to learn a lesson before the postseason."
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