This article was originally published prior to June 2, 2013. Due to a change in the content management systems, the initial publication date in not available. 

After a tough matchup against nationally-ranked Lindenwood University in the title match for the HAAC tournament, the volleyball team left with a second place finish and missed the national tournament by a hair.

Head coach Kathy Allen said she is anything but disappointed in the team’s performance.

“Nobody likes to play a bad game,” she said. “Our team met and exceeded all the goals we set this year.”

In the first game, the Wildcats gave the Lions a run for their money, losing only 25-23. However, the last two games proved more difficult, and the Wildcats dropped both games 25-9.

Junior Nikki Anderson said during the first game, the team was doing everything right.

“Every aspect of our game was on point,” she said. “We were serving aggressive and had good passes. That’s what was working for us.”

After the first game, the team lost some intensity and Lindenwood took advantage, sophomore Brooke Pryor said.

“Going into the match we were pretty confident in our team’s ability and because of how well we have done the whole season,” she said. “In the next two games, we showed our weaknesses, and they took advantage.”

The team finished 23-13 overall this season, 6-4 in conference play and second in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

With such a young team, (only five were upperclassmen), Allen said the team could have looked at this year as a rebuilding season but instead became a threat to beat every team in the conference.

“We only returned three veteran starters, otherwise everyone was new,” Allen said.

For the efforts of senior libero Jayde Allen, the conference voted her as a Libero of the Year for the second year in row, and she received first team all-conference honors along with senior outside hitter Alexis Pryor.

Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Pryor received second team all-conference honors, while freshmen Kelsey Cobb and Brooke Allen were given a nod with honorable mentions.

While losing both Jayde Allen and Alexis Pryor will be difficult, coach Allen said she expects Brooke Pryor to step up and take her sister’s place.

“Having (Alexis) be here really gave me confidence that I can compete at this level,” Brooke Pryor said. “She pushes me in the inner-team competition. Alexis has made me a better player each and every day.”

Along with the skills of the Wildcats’ seniors, Anderson said their leadership on the court was a huge asset to the team’s success.

“They always did a really good job of playing with a lot of emotion and intensity,” she said. “They were definitely leaders by example, and they showed their leadership in the way they played.”

The national tournament begins Saturday, but the top 12 teams received a bye and will go straight to Sioux City, Iowa. Lindenwood is a part of those 12 and will represent the HAAC in the national tournament Dec. 2.

With so many players returning, Brooke Pryor said the team should do even better next year.