Freshman Courtney Cecil dominates
as Stags beat Toppers
[October 01, 2026]
It was a freshman from the visiting team who stole the show
in Mount Pulaski on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 as the
Hartsburg-Emden Stags swept Mount Pulaski in both matches.
Courtney Cecil, a freshman outside hitter, recorded a career-high 16
kills in the JV match as the Stags beat Mount Pulaski 16-25, 25-21
and 15-3.
Cecil then turned around and played a solid two sets for the Stags
Varsity team, earning four kills, four digs and leading the team
with eleven service points.
The Stags won the Varsity match 25-13 and 25-10 over Mount Pulaski.
Senior Emma Eeten also recorded her 300th career block for the Stags
in the win.
Cambelle Hopkins led the Stags Varsity with six kills.
Set One
After an ace serve by Mariah Stone, Mount Pulaski had a 3-1
advantage to start set one. The Stags were quick to jump in front
5-4 after a kill from Emma Eeten in the middle. Addison Copeland
tied the set 5-5 with a really good kill of her own for Mount
Pulaski.
Cecil was able to put down back-to-back kills that really got the
Stags fired up and eventually they built a 12-5 lead over the Lady
Toppers. Chants of “She’s a freshman!” echoed from the Stags corner
in the gym.
After a kill by Hopkins, the Stags were dominating Mount Pulaski
with a 19-9 score.
The Stags kept it rolling and after a couple aces from Cecil, the
lead was 22-9. Mount Pulaski’s errors mounted down the stretch and
the Stags took set one 25-13.
Set Two
Jessi Wade came up big with a block that put Mount Pulaski in an
early 3-2 lead in set two. But in the blink of an eye the Stags were
up 6-3 and that lead quickly became 9-4 after an ace by Hopkins.
With Eeten adding a kill, the lead escalated to 11-4.
Cecil then put up a good block on Mount Pulaski and the result was
the Stags student section chanting once again, “She’s a freshman!”
Cecil responded with another kill for the Stags. The Stags mounted
an even larger lead after an ace by Lydia Doolin. The lead was now
16-5.
With Cecil, Eeten and Hopkins getting some great swings in, the
kills just kept coming and the Stags remained in front 20-9.
Cecil also has a bullet serve and her back-to-back aces attributed
to the 22-9 lead.
Finally, a kill by Hopkins and an ace by Allie Grelck put the
Toppers away by a final score of 25-10.
Cecil was so impressive versus Mount Pulaski that even longtime
Toppers fan Delmar Stewart said, “She’s really good for a freshman.”
As for Mount Pulaski, they are much better than the 5-16 record they
possess. It’s been a tough year for a team that lost some players
but the ones that remain have stepped up and showed great
improvement.
As for the Stags, Coach Jennifer Hayes has guided them to a 14-6
record so far and she always seems to find the right pieces of the
puzzle to put together a solid team.
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Emma Eeten (12) is surrounded by her teammates after she recorded
her 300th career block versus Mount Pulaski. Photo courtesy of
Brianna Eeten
Mount Pulaski
JV stats
Marten 6 kills
Noltensmeier 12 assists
Cowan 24 digs
Copeland 15 digs
Varsity stats
Leonard 20 digs
Martin 10 digs
Copeland 10 digs
Cooper 4 assists
Hartsburg-Emden
JV stats
Points
Addie Wetherell 11
Lydia Doolin 5
Ava Eeten 5
Courtney Cecil 4
Abria Fletcher 4
Kills
Courtney Cecil 16
Lydia Doolin 4
Ava Eeten 1
Blocks
Courtney Cecil 2
Ava Eeten 2
Luisa Doolin 1
Assists
Ava Eeten 11
Brinley Ballance 9
Digs
Addie Wetherell 13
Lydia Doolin 7
Courtney Cecil 6
Brinley Ballance 3
Ava Eeten 3
Abria Fletcher 2
Varsity stats
Points
Courtney Cecil 11
Lydia Doolin 8
Cambelle Hopkins 6
Allie Grelck 4
Emma Eeten 2
Kills
Cambelle Hopkins 6
Emma Eeten 5
Courtney Cecil 4
Lydia Doolin 1
Blocks
Emma Eeten 2.5
Courtney Cecil 1.5
Ava Eeten .5
Assists
Allie Grelck 7
Ava Eeten 7
Lydia Doolin 1
Digs
Cambelle Hopkins 4
Courtney Cecil 4
Allie Grelck 3
Ava Eeten 1
Emma Eeten 1
[Teena Lowery]
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