'They're not always happy': How this setter manages Metamora's deep roster of arms

METAMORA — Managing the plethora of Metamora’s talented hitters falls on setter Victoria Hall.

Esma Frieden patrols the outside with Bella Gregory and Sophie Fletcher in the middle. Mia Querciagrossa and Hannah Yoder play some right side.

Lots of mouths, err, arms to feed.

“They’re not always happy,” Hall said with a laugh, “but they always perform well. They always use their shots. They always use the block.

“They’re really good and it’s like no matter what I give them, they’re going to make something good out of it.”

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With that talent around her, Hall has helped guide Metamora to a regional title for a third consecutive season. The Redbirds (32-4) now face Limestone (32-5-1) at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the LaSalle-Peru Sectional final.

This year’s team is looking to erase the memories of the devastating Elite Eight loss last season to Joliet Catholic. Metamora led by as many as seven points in the final set including set point, but JCA rallied for the win, spoiling a chance at the first-ever state finals berth for the Redbirds.

“We all have that sad feeling still in us,” Hall said, “where it kind of made us hungry for this season. We don’t want to lose anymore. We use it as fuel every day. We talk about it every day.”

So, Metamora has made it its mission to make it back to the supersectionals, then take it one step more — Redbird Arena for the state finals.

The 5-foot-8 senior has been especially instrumental in keeping Metamora cohesive. Coach Tara Ballard was a little nervous heading into summer workouts with a big question mark regarding who would step up and lead her program.

Hall took control almost immediately and became a leader for Metamora.

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“She’s one that brings everybody in,” Ballard said, “and just loves the girls, cares about them and she just keeps everyone in line.”

The ninth-year coach raves about Hall’s ability to run the floor, serve and defend. Ballard has reminded her to keep the lines of communication open with the hitters, getting their feedback on what they like.

Plus, she thinks Hall does just fine spreading the wealth.

“People who maybe don’t know volleyball don’t realize how good of a player she is,” Ballard said. “She does a great job of mixing things up and she’s very deceptive, so that makes things even more difficult for the other side.”

Next season, Hall will attend the University of the Incarnate Word, a Division-I school that plays in the Southland Conference. There she’ll play volleyball and major in biology at the San Antonio, Texas-based school.

A dream come true for a girl who grew up watching Big Ten Conference volleyball.

“It’s a very competitive program,” Hall said, “and I think it will be a good fit, and I’ll be able to compete a lot and just play against some really tough girls and continue to grow."

Hall showed a flash of that high volleyball IQ in Thursday’s win over Washington. Her setter dump — a surprise attack, of sorts — where instead of setting the ball, Hall pushed the ball over the net and found a hole in the Panthers defense sealed the opening set victory.

Her 16 assists and four aces were both team highs.

“I’ve always tried to learn how (Big Ten setters) do it,” Hall said of the setter dump, “that way I can bring it to my own game.”

And now, it’s two wins down, three to go for program history.

“It was just heartbreaking what happened last year,” Ballard said, “so I know the girls have big goals. They want to make it to Redbird Arena, and I think it also, though, (playing in the Elite Eight last season) gave them confidence to know that we can do it.”

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

More:2022 IHSA volleyball postseason pairings, schedules, scores for the Peoria area

Peoria-area sectional finals

All matches scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday

Class 2A

At Farmington: (2) Quincy Notre Dame vs. (1) Macomb

At Fairbury: (1) Illinois Valley Central vs. (3) Fieldcrest

Class 3A

At LaSalle-Peru: (2) Limestone vs. (1) Metamora

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Metamora volleyball setter Victoria Hall leads Redbirds in IHSA playoffs